Hey Nutrition Experts, Help Me Out Pweeze...

We use extra-firm tofu in stir fry, and it pretty much tastes like whatever sauce or seasonings you use. I use it more for texture than for flavor.

Isn't most of the calcium bone-strengthening supposed to occur when you're under 18, otherwise its not as effective?

That was my excuse for having alot of Ben and Jerrys last year.

Oxalic acid, which is found in spinach, rhubarb, chard, and beet greens binds with the calcium in those foods and reduces its absorption. These foods should not be considered good sources of calcium. Calcium in other green vegetables, like kale, collard greens, Chinese mustard greens, and Chinese cabbage flower leaves is well absorbed1,19.
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/calcium.htm

That website also says to check the labels on tofu, since its calcium varies wildly depending on whether its processed with calcium sulfate or other compounds.

You get used to it. Until you go out to breakfast and have real OJ again.

Yes. Always extra firm. Here's the best stand alone tofu recipe ever. I recommend dicing the tofu smaller than the recipe calls for. And I cook it until it's crispy on at least one side.

Soy Dream has calcium and vitamin-fortified soy milks and ice creams. I'm lactose intolerant too, and I love this stuff.

I hear that if you stop baby talk like "PWEEASE", it raises your testosterone and strengthens the bones.

How is this going to effect you having sex 8 times a day?

for the record: pulp. always pulp. as much pulp as you can possibly fit into a jug of oj.

and re: how to make tofu extra tasty...

1) get margarine crazy hot in a pan, throw slabs of tofu in it and pour mesquite bbq sauce on liberally. fry until the tofu is just a bit crisp on the outside and/or the sugar in the bbq sauce has fully caramelized. eat it like a burger.

2) same margarine method but use tamari instead. can be eaten like a burger or sliced up and thrown into a stir fry. chili flakes and/or shredded ginger go well on this one too.

3) my all-time favorite: tofu scramble. fry up some broccolini (no stems), a chopped green bell pepper, and some shallots (or garlic) in a few tbsp's of oil and a shallow layer of water (get the pan hot first, the water should turn to turn to steam when you throw it on). add basil and black pepper. in a separate pan crumble extra firm tofu up with your fingers and fry it in a bit of oil. mix a bit of turmeric in (add more oil or some water to get it to evenly coat the tofu) then put chili flakes and sesame seeds into it. once the tofu is about half-cooked, put the veggies in and mix it all around. i usually throw a bit of salt and a lot more black pepper in at this point. fry up some hashbrowns and veggie bacon (morningstar farms bacon is godly) and you have yourself the breakfast of kings. if you're making a full breakfast, start the hashbrowns about ten minutes before the scramble.

Thank you.

Tums/Rolaids/Antacids are usually just Calcium Carbonate, so those will work. Plus everything else that's been mentioned. There's plenty of calcium rich foods out there, dairy ain't the sole source (despite how it's advertised).

Yeah, if you're vegan/vegatarian you really should be taking tons of calcium supplements as well as B Vitamins. If you don't, you'll regret it later.

Pweeze cram it, Panda.

Visciously.

Wow.

I'm gonna try thpse in the order in which you listed 'em. Sounds so good!

I know. I usually just eat what I feel like (usually ends up well balanced), so I'm a victim of "Dairy = Only working source of calcium".

But you lovely folks give me the learnin's reeeeeal good.

No, but it doesn't hurt to supplement your diet with vitamins. Especially if you tend to be lazy about your diet sometimes. You know, if you're not a fan of collard greens or whatever.

I normally thin it out with some vodka. After a few, I don't even notice the pulp.

Although I eat as vitamin-and-mineral-consciously as possible, I take a basic multivitamin every day along with a few flax seed oil caplets for omegas, just to make sure. It's not a bad idea for anyone, carnivores and vegetarians alike.

Many long-term vegetarians/vegans (5 years or more) that I've known pay far more attention to the vitamin and protein content of their diets than many omnivores I've known. (note that I said MANY, not ALL, you militant meat eaters )

So true.

'Tis usually the reason they become vegan/vegitarian in the first place, to eat better and live a more healthy lifestyle...

I was going to put "Hey Vegans/Vegitarians, Nutrition Help Needed" as the subject line. But I thought that some people would take offence to the generalization.

Wow.

I realized I type a LOT of what's on my mind when I'm jacked up on meds....

Hehehe. This thread has rekindled a passion for tofu...

or perhaps you could just ask for calcium supplement tablets. they come in nice lemon flavor taste like lemon pie... a bit of heaven in a tablet. calcichew also has vitamin d. for all you daily requirements. and just cuz you are lactose intolerant doesnt mean you can not have some dairy. i am severely lactose intolerant and i manage yogurt quite fine. just a matter of finding what will and wont work.