Count Up Your Calcium

Calcium is important for good health – it keeps your bones strong, helps control high blood pressure and may play a role in weight control. But do you know if you are getting enough calcium? Use the chart below to count up the calcium in your diet. First, think about what you ate and drank yesterday at all meals and snacks. Now look at the foods in each column below and write the number of servings you had in the box provided. (For example, if you drank 1-1/2 cups of milk, put down 1.5 next to milk.) Next, add up the numbers for each column. Then, multiply these numbers as directed. Finally, add up the total from each column for your personal calcium count and see how you scored!***Foods that provide about 30% or more of the daily value for calcium:___ Skim or 1% milk or calcium-fortified soymilk (1 cup)___ Lowfat/fat-free yogurt (8 oz)___ Lowfat buttermilk (1 cup)___ Calcium-fortified orange juice (8 oz)___ Reduced-fat, shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese (1/4 cup)___ Total® cereal – give yourself three points for every serving on this one (3/4 cup)_____ (subtotal)_____ (subtotal multiplied times 3)**Foods that provide about 20% of the daily value for calcium:___ Cheese (1 oz)___ Reduced-fat cheese singles (1 slice)___ Salmon, canned with bones(3 oz)___ Kale, cooked (1 cup)___ Soybeans or white beans, cooked (1 cup)___ Pudding with milk (1/2 cup)___ Lowfat blueberry muffin from calcium-fortified mix (1)_____ (subtotal)_____ (subtotal multiplied times 2)*Foods that provide about 10% of the daily value for calcium:___ Beans, cooked (1 cup)___ Calcium-fortified cereal (1/2 cup)___ Dried figs (4)___ Light ice cream (1/2 cup)___ Fat-free or lowfat cottage cheese (1/2 cup)___ Light string cheese (1 piece)___ Fat-free American cheese singles (1 slice)___ I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® Sweet Cream & Calcium (1 Tbsp)_____ (subtotal)_____ (Total of all three columns)Scoring (for adults):• 10+ points = Excellent! Keep up the good work; eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.• 8-9 points = Great! Your calcium intake is high. Adding a 2- or 3-star food will boost your calcium count.• 6-7 points = Good! You’re off to a good start. Add at least one 3-star food to improve your calcium intake.• 4-5 points = Just about halfway there! Add at least two 3-star foods to get that calcium into your diet.• 3 or fewer points = Get to work! The easiest way to get the calcium your body needs is to eat at least three 3-star foods daily.How much calcium do YOU need?Age 19-50 yrs 1,000 mgOlder than 50 yrs 1,200 mgAge 9-18 yrs 1,300 mgAge 4-8 yrs 800 mgAge 1-3 yrs 500 mgCalcium facts• “High in calcium,” “rich in calcium” or “excellent source of calcium” means that the food provides at least 20% of the daily value of calcium (at least 200 mg).• “Good source of calcium” or “contains/provides calcium” means that the food provides 10 to 19% of the daily value of calcium (100-190 mg).• The upper limit for calcium is set at 2500 mg.By Hollis Bass, MEd, RD

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Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy’s passion for cooking began with helping her grandmother make raisin oatmeal for breakfast. From there, she earned her first food service job at 15, was accepted to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at 18 (where she graduated second in her class), and went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland, where she focused on pastry arts and baking. After a decade in food service for Hyatt Hotels, Judy launched Food and Health Communications to focus on flavor and health. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Arts, holds a master’s degree in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and runs a food photography & motion studio where her love is creating fun recipes and content.

Judy received The Culinary Institute of America’s Pro Chef II certification, the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year. Her enthusiasm for eating nutritiously and deliciously leads her to constantly innovate and use the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to guide her creativity, from putting new twists on fajitas to adapting Italian brownies to include ingredients like toasted nuts and cooked honey. Judy’s publishing company, Food and Health Communications, is dedicated to her vision that everyone can make food that tastes as good as it is for you.

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