Calcium is one of those nutrients that is a challenge to get when one does
not use dairy products.  I have several thoughts related to this:

1. For good bone growth, calcium and phosphorus need to be in roughly a 1:1
ratio.  Our diets are very high in phosphorus (which is high in meats and
protein foods, pop, and in fruits and vegetables).

2. High protein diets increase the need for calcium (probably because of the
phosphorus).

3. Our ancestors got their calcium from eating insects (exoskeletons are high
in calcium--yum!)

4. Calcium fortified orange juice and orange juice-like beverages are
available.  I don't know much about the quality of this calcium, but it is
advertised as very absorbable.  Maybe Arly knows more about this than I do.
Anyway, 8 oz of the fortified juice has the same calcium as  1 glass of milk,
but much less phosphorus.  If this is being used ot replace milk, 1 ounce of
protein needs to be added to the diet, as well.

5. Edible bones (from canned fish) and  bones cooked in acid liquids increase
calcium leaching for soups.

6. There's always calcium carbonate.  The brand that is 4 letters long (this
is sort of like Charades!) is recommended by our kidney doctor as a calcium
supplement for renal patients.

Hope this helps!

Martha Grodrian Brower RD LD IBCLC, the queen of Nutrition Trivia
Dayton, Ohio