If you thought strong bones and teeth were built on an exclusive diet of milk and cheese, you're about to be shook. Calcium is a nutrient you’ve been hanging out with since you were in diapers. Your flirtation began with milk, got serious with cheese during your teen years, and now you two might be at risk of a monotonous relationship. So, It's high time you two tried seeing other people, or in this case, foods. Crafting a calcium-rich diet doesn't require cow-whispering skills or a love affair with cheddar. Your calcium date could be a yogurt, a leafy green veg, or even a cheeky little sardine, and who knew seeds could pack such a calcium punch?

Whether you’re a fan of the tangy Greek yogurt (with a slightly modest calcium profile but great for gut health), or you prefer more humble low-fat yogurts, both options come with bonus nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, and B vitamins. Cheese, apart from being a lip-smacking delight, is also a good source of calcium and protein, although its fat and calorie content warrants moderate consumption.

Another star performer in the calcium league is the underappreciated amaranth. It can be a fantastic side dish, or proudly take the place of rice, offering not just calcium love but folate, phosphorous, and iron too. Figs, also a high scorer in the calcium games, bring Vitamin K and potassium to the table and taste good too - what a sport!

If you prefer hanging out on the wild side, sardines and salmon are your type, providing both calcium and protein along with some omega-3 fatty acids for heart, brain, and skin health. Then there are beans and lentils, which apart from being calcium-rich, provide protein, fiber, iron, zinc, folate, and magnesium.

Tofu and soy milk are also rich in calcium, along with protein and folate. If your dietary choices rule out dairy foods, these can be a great alternative.

So, don’t put all your calcium eggs in one dairy basket; play the field instead. Your bones and teeth will thank you for it, and variety is the spice of life after all.

Remember, whilst calcium is crucial for our health, let’s value quality over quantity. Consuming more than the recommended amount of calcium isn’t going to make your bones invincible. Speak to your healthcare provider about whether a calcium supplement could be beneficial for you, and remember, the best source of calcium is always going to be from food, not from a bottle.

Whether it’s dairy, greens, fish, or seeds, let’s make a pact to mix it up and give our body the diverse range of calcium it deserves. Let's break the monotony and enrich our diet without boring our taste buds. Your body will thank you for the nutrient variety, and who knows, you might find some new favorite foods along the way.