Iron absorption is enhanced by the presence of vitamin C in the intestines so taking it with tomato or orange juice is helpful. People who cook with cast iron get all the iron they need if they cook with tomatoes.
When my hemoglobin bottomed out during my pregnancies my doc put me on cream of wheat each morning. Sprinkle of brown sugar, some strawberries for vitamin C... I was a happy camper and it raised my iron levels painlessly.
BTW, postmenopausal women should not take iron supplements or iron fortified vitamins unless told to do so by their doctors. (This is why there is a Centrum
Silver) High iron levels have been directly linked to increased risk of heart attacks.