Health Tip: Iron

Vegetarians can get sufficient iron in their diet if it includes iron-rich foods like seeds and nuts, legumes, egg yolks, iron-enriched breakfast cereals, tofu, dried fruit like raisins, dark green vegetables like broccoli, enriched pasta, brown rice, wheat germ, and blackstrap molasses.

To increase your intake of iron from these sources, eat them with foods rich in vitamin C: citrus fruits, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, green peppers, tomatoes, or cantaloupe.

Pace your beverages. Avoid drinking cola, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate at mealtime, because the caffeine in them decreases your body's ability to absorb the iron from other foods.