Nutrition guide
Low Calorie Foods
Calorie density — energy per 100g — is dominated by water and fiber content. Water-rich vegetables and fruits sit at the bottom of this ranking, while oils, nuts, and seeds sit at the top. Energy values here use USDA Atwater general factors (the same basis used on nutrition labels). Low-calorie-dense foods are useful for volume eating; the ranking is data, not a prescription.
Energy basis: Atwater general factors (USDA), per 100g edible portion.
What counts as “high”?
A useful informal split: under 40 kcal per 100g is very low density (most water-rich vegetables), 40–100 is low (fruits, starchy vegetables, lean proteins), 100–250 moderate, and above ~250 calorie-dense (nuts, seeds, dry grains, fats).
Top 10 by calories per 100g
See the full ranking of all 30 foods →
Common questions
Which foods have the fewest calories per 100g?
In this database, water-rich vegetables — tomatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, leafy greens, asparagus — sit at the bottom of the ranking at under 30 kcal per 100g.
Are low-calorie foods always better for weight loss?
Calorie density helps with satiety per amount eaten, but total diet quality and adherence matter more than any single food. The ranking is one input, not a rule.
Why do nuts and seeds rank high in calories?
They are dry, fat-rich foods: removing water concentrates energy. Nuts and seeds carry many useful nutrients — the ranking orders energy density only.
All values from USDA FoodData Central per 100g edible portion. Rankings reflect measured content, not typical serving sizes or absorption differences.