If You Don’t Eat Dairy, Where Do You Get Your Calcium?

If You Don’t Eat Dairy, Where Do You Get Your Calcium?

  • Sarah Von Alt
  • Sarah Von Alt

If you’re vegan, it’s a question you hear all too often: What about calcium? We caught up with MFA volunteer George Price to get his perspective. So… how do you get enough calcium as a vegan? Here’s how George responded:

When I decided to stop eating dairy, people told me that I would not be able to get enough calcium without milk. How wrong they were!
After a little research, I quickly realized that some of my favorite foods were loaded with calcium, and I had even more reason to eat my veggies!

Collard greens, kale, and broccoli are rich in calcium and are great additions to any meal. I like to sauté my greens with veggie stock and olive oil and then eat them with mashed potatoes and Gardein’s Chick’n Scallopini. Other times I make sure to include navy beans or black-eyed peas in my meals, both of which are loaded with calcium and protein. Sometimes I mix them in with rice or just eat them as a side. And don’t forget soybeans! They’re another great way to get calcium, and you can do a million things with tofu!

Of course, calcium-fortified cereals and juices in the morning don’t hurt either. I prefer to start the day with a bowl of raisin bran and some almond milk next to a big glass of orange juice. If I’m running late or just don’t have time to cook, I might just grab some almonds or Brazil nuts on the way out and get my calcium fix on the go.

Getting enough calcium doesn’t require a lot of special attention. As long as you’re eating a diverse array of foods and including some of the foods mentioned above, you should get everything you need. If you’re still worried you’re not getting enough calcium, you can always take a supplement to be sure.

For a list of calcium-rich vegan foods, click here.

Have a question you want answered? Send me a message at [email protected].