Read on to find a list of calcium rich foods your doctor forgot to tell you about...Gluten free living for those with autoimmunity can be a challenge, but what if you’re also lactose intolerant, allergic to dairy, or intolerant to caseins? How many times have you been confronted with the question or personal concern of nutrition and adequate calcium intake? This is an especially legitimate concern for children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, postmenopausal women, and men and women at risk for osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
Are dairy products or supplements the only answer?
The answer is that many plant based foods and fish are loaded with calcium, and they comprise some tasty recipe alternatives to dairy based dishes, in addition to offering plenty of protein, fiber, and/or antioxidants.
Consider these great plant sources of calcium:
Milligrams of calcium per 3 ½ serving (100 grams) serving:
Kelp 1093 mg | Raisins 62 mg |
Collard Leaves 250 mg | Dates 59 mg |
Turnip Greens 246 mg | Sunflower seed butter 53 mg |
Molasses 245 mg | Cooked, dried beans 50 mg |
Almonds 234 mg | Celery 39 mg |
Tofu 128 mg | Quinoa 35 mg |
Ripe Olives 106 mg | Sweet Potato 32 mg |
Broccoli 103 mg | Brown Rice/*cooked 32 mg/*9 mg |
Walnuts 99 mg | Garlic 29 mg |
Spinach 93 mg | Onion 27 mg |
Cooked Soybeans 73 mg | Garden green peas 26 mg |
Pecans 73 mg | Grapes 16 mg |
Romaine Lettuce 68 mg | Tomato 13 mg |
Dried Apricots 67 mg |
Animal Sources, Cooked Greens, and Nut Milks
Milligrams of calcium per 8 ounce serving (1 cup) serving:
- Canned Salmon w/bones 490 mg
- Cooked Mustard Greens 450 mg
- Cooked Bok Choy 330 mg
- Almond Milk 300 mg
The above data was derived from Clinical Nutrition, A Functional Approach, 2nd Ed (Liska, D. et. al. 2004).
4 Mouth Watering Recipes:
Calcium and Protein Packed Vegan Dinner
- ½ cup Cooked Brown Rice or Quinoa
- 1 cup cooked dried beans, try a combination!
- (Cook in crock pot with tomato sauce, molasses, onions, garlic, and sea salt to taste)
- Sliced olives for garnish
- 2-3 Large Romaine Lettuce Leaves
Create a bowl shape with the romaine lettuce leaves. Spoon cooked rice or quinoa over lettuce, and then top with the cooked beans. Garnish with sliced olives. Ahhh…perfect on a cold evening after an active day.
Favorite Spring Salad
- 1 Cup Raw Spinach
- 1 Cup Romaine Lettuce, torn into small pieces
- 3 ounces canned wild salmon, bones included
- 2 TBLS Chopped Walnuts
- 2 TBLS Dried Apricots cut into strips
- ½ Cup whole grapes
- Gluten Free and dairy free Dressing made with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Rinse and pat dry the spinach and romaine lettuce. Drain salmon and flake over the greens. Toss with walnuts, apricots, and grapes. Drizzle with dressing. This is the perfect salad to get through a busy afternoon and packs a punch in fiber, protein, essential fats, and antioxidants!
Easy Veg Stir Fry
Easy Veg Stir Fry
- 1-2 TBLS Olive Oil or Canola Oil
- ¼ - ½ cup Onion, chopped
- 1-2 tsp Garlic, minced
- Broccoli, as desired
- 1 small sweet potato, sliced thin
- Mustard greens, as desired
- Bok Choy, as desired
- Sea Salt to taste, fresh cilantro, or gluten free Soy Sauce
- ½ cup Tofu, cut into 1 inch cubes (optional)
- Small Tomato
Heat the oil in a cast iron skillet. Cook onion and garlic for 1-2 minutes over medium high heat. Add broccoli, sweet potato, mustard greens, and bok choy. Season with sea salt and fresh cilantro or with gluten-free soy sauce, and continue cooking until vegetables are al dente. Add tofu and cook just until heated through. Slice tomatoes on top and serve alone or over cooked brown rice. This packs in the fiber along with a calcium punch!
Rice Pudding
Rice Pudding
- Left-over cooked brown rice
- Enough Almond Milk to cover rice, plus extra if needed to thin during cooking
- 1 TBLS Arrowroot Powder or gluten-free Cornstarch
- Raisins or chopped dates
- Agave nectar or Raw Maple Sugar to taste
- Walnuts, chopped
- 1 tsp gluten free vanilla
Combine rice, almond milk, raisins (or dates), and starch in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until simmering, and then reduce heat to low. Continue cooking a stirring occasionally until rice becomes soft and mixture thickens (about 10-20 minutes). Sweeten with and agave or honey to desired taste. If needed, add more nut milk to maintain a custard type consistency (mixture will continue to thicken as it cools). Remove from heat and stir in nuts and vanilla. Cool slightly and serve warm, or chill and serve cold.
For more info: Debunking the Dairy Myth - Get Your Calcium From Plants!
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