The benefits of eating natural foods high in calcium have been getting a lot of attention in the health space lately. Eating a calcium-rich, natural diet has been linked to all sorts of health benefits like bone health, muscle function and blood pressure regulation.
Now, to reap these benefits, you must be eating natural foods with calcium in them to help your body thrive. A mindful, healthy diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, grain and proteins. However, eating healthfully also means avoiding processed junk foods, or foods that are high in amounts of added sugar and salt.
While wholesome eating can help produce a healthy outward appearance, it also positively affects many of the functions inside our bodies that are often unseen. When we eat mindfully, we may sleep better, have increased concentration and have more energy! All of these things work together to create a happy and balanced life.
Healthy eating isn't just about cutting certain foods out of your diet—it's about eating a variety of nutritious foods, like those packed with calcium, to give your body the nutrients it needs. The great news is, there is not one single calcium-rich food that you should be indulging in daily, there are several! Making sure that your diet is packed with calcium-rich foods like green leafy vegetables and nuts is a great way to ensure that you're following a healthy and balanced diet. Curious to find out what foods are high in calcium and how to add them to your diet? Keep scrolling for a list of natural foods high in calcium.
Kale and Other Leafy Greens
It's no secret that health enthusiasts everywhere love leafy greens. Whether fresh or frozen, leafy greens are an ingredient that a kitchen should always be stocked with. And as for some of the best greens around, you truly can't beat kale!
Packed with nutrients like vitamin C, kale is an excellent source of calcium for those following a vegan or vegetarian diet. If you're not extremely familiar with kale, then it may seem like a tricky vegetable to deal with compared to other veggies.
Wondering how you can add more kale to your diet? Keep reading for some of our favorite kale inspired recipes.
Vanilla Kale Shake
Easy to make and incredibly delicious, this Vanilla Kale Shake is a great way to sneak some greens into your diet. Made with our Vanilla Protein Powder Nutritional Booster, it's loaded with protein and calcium that will leave your feeling energized and help you better focus on the day's tasks.
Potato Kale Vegan Quiche
Not a fan of eggs but still want to indulge in a delicious brunch? Try out this Potato Kale Vegan Quiche! This quiche uses our Garbanzo Bean Flour to create an incredible gluten free egg substitute that tastes just as great as the original. Loaded with healthy ingredients like kale and Yukon gold potatoes, it's a flavorful brunch that the entire family will go crazy for.
Roasted Beet and Tomato Salad with Burrata and Toasted Pepitas
Though Roasted Beet and Tomato Salad with Burrata and Toasted Pepitas might sound (and taste!) like a mouthful, it's easy to make! Especially because the only cooked ingredients are the beets and tomatoes. Once these two ingredients have been cooked, simply accessorize your salad with healthy greens like kale, seeds and nuts!
Nuts
Looking for a high-calcium food to enjoy as a snack? You're not alone. We've searched high and low for a snack that is high in calcium. And what did we discover? Nuts! Nuts are one of the most nutritious foods around, and they're loaded with calcium.
Not only are they a great source of calcium, but they're also full of plant-based protein. The important nutrients found in nuts like almonds will help keep you satisfied and full throughout the day. Slather your morning toast with nut butter or top your afternoon smoothie with whole nuts like almonds, cashews, and peanuts. Whichever way you choose to sneak nuts into your diet, it's bound to be delicious!
Recipe to Try: Cherry Date Nut Bars
These Cherry Date Nut Bars are a plant-based meal that will make it easy to add calcium packed nuts like almonds into your recipe rotation. Packed with flavorful ingredients like dates and hazelnuts, these bars make a sweet on-the-go breakfast entirely possible. Prepped and made in just under an hour, they are the perfect meal-prep breakfast. Make this recipe in large batches and freeze leftover bars to enjoy throughout the week.
Beans
Raise your hand if canned foods like black beans have become a staple in your cooking routine since you've been staying inside more - us too. Now, if you're solely using canned beans to add to your burritos, then you're missing out on an array of tasty recipes that have significant nutritional benefits. Chock-full of calcium and other nutrients, black beans are a wonderful food to enjoy as a part of a healthy lifestyle.
So, how can you make the most out of the beans in your pantry? Check out a few of our favorite ways to use beans regularly:
Add Them to a Salad
Toss any kind of canned beans into a tasty salad for an extra boost of nutrients. Chickpeas, black beans and kidney beans are a few of the bean varieties commonly used in salad recipes. If you don't plan on using the entire can of beans, don't worry. Store any leftover beans in a sealed container in the refrigerator to enjoy later.
Make Hummus
Hummus is a delicious veggies dip that pairs well with just about anything. Enjoy it as a dip with carrots or use it as a spread to liven up a sandwich. If you're new to making hummus try out this Hummus Recipe for instant success!
Make Chili
Craving warm comfort food? Use beans to make a delicious chili like this 13 Bean Chili. This recipe makes five servings and is a tasty meal for the entire family to enjoy. Make this meal to enjoy right away, or double up on the recipe and freeze leftovers to eat later in the week.
Amaranth
It's nearly summer, which means that you'll be spending more time outdoors and on-the-go. Before heading out to your summer activities, you'll want to pack a delicious assortment of snacks for you and the family. Amaranth can help with that! This calcium-rich grain is the perfect ingredient to add to granola recipes, breakfast cereals and even granola bars. By adding amaranth to your snack recipes, you can ensure that the kiddos are kept happy and healthy, even on the busiest of summer days.
Besides being high in calcium, amaranth is also a widely used grain because it's naturally gluten free. With gluten intolerance on the rise, it can be hard to tell who is and isn't affected by gluten. To ensure that your summertime snacks can be enjoyed by everyone, use amaranth to create all of your favorite treats.
Recipe to Try: Maple Amaranth Granola
Now, if you're kids have been asking you for snacks all day long. Quickly whip up a batch of this calcium-rich Maple Amaranth Granola. A healthier version of many store-bought granolas, it's made with plant-based ingredients that you can feel good about. Purchase the Organic Amaranth Grain and Rolled Oats in Bulk to ensure that you'll always have enough ingredients on hand to make this delicious treat.
Oranges
Summertime is nearing, which means it's time to switch up your recipes. And we've got the perfect ingredient to help you do so—oranges! Loaded with calcium and vitamin C, oranges add a sweet boost of healthy nutrients to anything they're combined with. A popular post-workout snack, oranges supply your body with vitamins and nutrients that help support an active and healthy lifestyle. The many health benefits and great flavor of oranges make it easy to add to a variety of different recipes. From sweet smoothies to savory dinner dishes, the way you use oranges is really up to you!
Recipe to Try: Cinnamon Orange Pancakes
If you're stuck in a recipe rut and want to surprise the family with a flavorsome calcium-rich dish, make these Cinnamon Orange Pancakes! Crispy, old fashioned and oh-so-delicious, these pancakes are made with buttermilk and a hint of orange. The ideal dish to make for a weekend brunch, the sweet citrus smell of these pancakes is the perfect scent to wake up to. Top them with a dollop of honey and dive in!
And there you have it! Five natural foods high in calcium that you can add to your weekly recipe rotation. Whether you use these foods to make a savory dish or your favorite summertime treat, keeping calcium-rich foods on hand is a great way to help the entire family stick to a healthy, well-balanced diet.
