Will my children get enough calcium on a Starch-Smart® diet?

A Starch-Smart® diet supplies adequate levels of calcium for growing children and can be started as soon as solid food is introduced. A well planned, Starch-Smart® diet provides optimal nutrition and powerful protection against childhood illness and chronic disease later in adulthood.  When consuming a diet rich in whole foods, beans, nuts, seeds, legumes, intact grains, organic soy, fruits and vegetables, it would be difficult not to obtain adequate calcium. Our bodies actually absorb calcium from plant foods more efficiently than from dairy. Calcium absorption from green vegetables is between 40-64% compared to 32% from milk. A 4 ounce serving of kale has as much calcium as one cup of milk. Excellent sources of calcium include green vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and enriched organic soy and rice milks and calcium-fortified orange juice. These foods offer several additional benefits that dairy products lack. They are rich in complex carbohydrates, micronutrients, iron, antioxidants, fiber, and are low in fat and contain no artery-clogging cholesterol.

For more details, see:

1) "Dairy Products and 10 False Promises"

2) "When Friends Ask: Why Don't You Drink Milk?"

3) "When Friends Ask: Where Do You Get Your Calcium?"