Carrot: how many calories?

Carrot carries 41 calories per 100 grams, and a typical portion is 100 grams too — so both figures are the same. The tables below give that figure in cups, spoons and slices.

100 g · 1 portion41kcal
  • Protein0.9 g
  • Carbs10.0 g
  • Fat0.2 g
  • Fibre2.8 g

Where do the calories come from?

  • Protein 8%
  • Carbs 88%
  • Fat 4%

The shares are calculated from the calorie value of the macros: protein and carbohydrate are 4 calories per gram, fat is 9. Fibre is counted inside the carbohydrate and there is no alcohol in this list, which is why the three shares always add up to one hundred percent.

What do these numbers mean on the plate?

Carrot carries 0.4 calories per gram: it takes 244 grams to reach 100 calories. In this band the portion is hard to misjudge by eye, because piling up calories means genuinely filling the plate.

The typical portion is already 100 grams, so the table figures are the figures for one portion — for Carrot there is nothing to convert.

In calories, one portion (100 g · 41 kcal) comes to: 98 g Cola. Cola page

One portion every day adds up to 14,965 calories a year — roughly a 1.9 kg difference. This is a linear estimate and an upper bound: as weight changes, daily needs change with it. Build your own timeline

In fruit and vegetables the calories are diluted by water; the dried form is several times denser at the same weight.

Household measure equivalents

MeasureGramCaloriesProtein
Tablespoon (15 ml)6.8 g3 kcal0.1 g
Small glass (100 ml)45 g18 kcal0.4 g
Glass (200 ml)90 g37 kcal0.8 g
US cup (240 ml)108 g44 kcal1.0 g
Bowl (300 ml)135 g55 kcal1.2 g
1 medium60 g25 kcal0.5 g
1 serving100 g41 kcal0.9 g

Cup and spoon equivalents come from the food's bulk density, not from volume: a cup holds 200 millilitres, not 200 grams. Packing and how finely something is chopped move these numbers by 10-20%. Convert your own measure

How much of the daily reference intake?

NutrientDaily reference100 g · 1 portion
Calories2,000 kcal2%
Fat70 g0%
Carbs260 g4%
Protein50 g2%
Fibre25 g11%

The reference values are the figures EU Regulation 1169/2011 gives for an average adult — the %RI column on labels rests on the same numbers. They are not a personal target; the fibre row is not in the regulation, the 25 grams there is EFSA's adequate intake for adults. Work out your own calorie needs

Where does it sit within its group?

It is number 7 of the 12 foods in the Fruit and vegetables group by calories per 100 grams. The group averages 51 kcal; Carrot is 19% below that average.

Lighter options at the same 100 grams

FoodCaloriesDifferenceProtein
Spinach — boiledGood swap23 kcal−18 kcal3.0 g
Broccoli — boiledGood swap35 kcal−6 kcal2.4 g
Cucumber15 kcal−26 kcal0.7 g

The “good swap” mark only appears when an option lowers the calories without also lowering protein and fibre per 100 calories. Unmarked rows save calories but give up nutrient density. Try it with your own portion

How long does it take to burn one portion (100 g)?

  • Walking — brisk (5.6 km/h)10 min
  • Running — 8 km/h (7:30 min/km)5 min
  • Cycling — 16-19 km/h6 min

The maths assumes 70 kg and is NET rather than gross: the resting calories that would burn without any exercise are not counted, because they do not pay for this portion. The heavier you are, the shorter the times. Calculate with your own weight

Foods with similar calories

Which claims could its label carry?

EU Regulation 1924/2006 ties every label claim to a numeric threshold. Carrot meets 2 of them:

  • Fat-free100 g → 0.2 g fat · threshold: at most 0.5 g
  • Source of fibre100 kcal → 6.8 g fibre · threshold: at least 1.5 g

A claim on a label rests on that product's OWN laboratory analysis, whereas the numbers here come from average composition tables. The list is therefore not a permit but an estimate of which side of the threshold a product sits on. For drinks, the calorie and fat thresholds are set per 100 millilitres and are lower. Interpret your own label

Apply these numbers to your own portion

The values are averages taken from standard composition tables; a 10-15% difference between two products with the same name is normal, and the cooking method can double that gap. This page is for information and is not medical advice.