Food rankings
Lowest-calorie foods, ranked
Energy density — calories per 100 grams — is one of the strongest levers for eating to fullness on fewer calories, the idea behind volume eating. The foods below have the lowest calorie density in our USDA-sourced database; most are water-rich vegetables and fruits that let you fill the plate for very little energy. Pair them with a protein source to round out a satisfying, lower-calorie meal.
Ranked by lowest calories (kcal) per 100 g.
Top foods chart
Top 8 · Calories / 100 g
| # | Food | Calories / 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grapefruit 0 kcal · 0 g protein · Fruits | 0 kcal |
| 2 | Raisins 0 kcal · 0 g protein · Fruits | 0 kcal |
| 3 | Flour tortilla 0 kcal · 0 g protein · Grains & Starches | 0 kcal |
| 4 | Corn tortilla 0 kcal · 0 g protein · Grains & Starches | 0 kcal |
| 5 | Canola oil 0 kcal · 0 g protein · Fats & Oils | 0 kcal |
| 6 | Mayonnaise 0 kcal · 0 g protein · Fats & Oils | 0 kcal |
| 7 | Green tea 0 kcal · 0 g protein · Beverages | 0 kcal |
| 8 | Black tea 1 kcal · 0 g protein · Beverages | 1 kcal |
| 9 | Coffee 2 kcal · 0 g protein · Beverages | 2 kcal |
| 10 | Cucumber 10 kcal · 1 g protein · Vegetables | 10 kcal |
| 11 | Cabbage 12 kcal · 1 g protein · Vegetables | 12 kcal |
| 12 | Zucchini 15 kcal · 1 g protein · Vegetables | 15 kcal |
| 13 | Radish 16 kcal · 1 g protein · Vegetables | 16 kcal |
| 14 | Celery 17 kcal · 0 g protein · Vegetables | 17 kcal |
| 15 | Romaine lettuce 17 kcal · 1 g protein · Vegetables | 17 kcal |
| 16 | Tomato 18 kcal · 1 g protein · Vegetables | 18 kcal |
| 17 | Pumpkin 18 kcal · 1 g protein · Vegetables | 18 kcal |
| 18 | Almond milk (unsweetened) 19 kcal · 1 g protein · Beverages | 19 kcal |
| 19 | Swiss chard 20 kcal · 2 g protein · Vegetables | 20 kcal |
| 20 | Lemon 22 kcal · 0 g protein · Fruits | 22 kcal |
| 21 | Asparagus 22 kcal · 2 g protein · Vegetables | 22 kcal |
| 22 | Mushrooms 22 kcal · 3 g protein · Vegetables | 22 kcal |
| 23 | Okra 22 kcal · 2 g protein · Vegetables | 22 kcal |
| 24 | Spinach 23 kcal · 3 g protein · Vegetables | 23 kcal |
| 25 | Bell pepper 26 kcal · 1 g protein · Vegetables | 26 kcal |
Grapefruit tops the list at 0 kcal, followed by Raisins (0 kcal) and Flour tortilla (0 kcal). Below are the top 25.
Questions
- Which food is highest on this list?
- Grapefruit ranks first at 0 kcal. Raisins (0 kcal) and Flour tortilla (0 kcal) follow.
- Are low-calorie foods automatically healthy?
- Low energy density usually signals high water and fiber content, which aids fullness — but balance still matters. Combine these foods with adequate protein and healthy fats.
- What is 'volume eating'?
- It is the practice of choosing low-energy-density foods so you can eat a large, filling volume of food while keeping total calories modest. This list is a starting point.
More rankings
Highest-protein foods, ranked
Ranked by grams of protein per 100 g (USDA FoodData Central).
Most protein per calorie, ranked
Ranked by grams of protein per 100 kcal (protein ÷ calories × 100).
Highest-fiber foods, ranked
Ranked by grams of dietary fiber per 100 g; Daily Value is 28 g.
Highest-calcium foods, ranked
Ranked by milligrams of calcium per 100 g; Daily Value is 1,300 mg.
Highest-iron foods, ranked
Ranked by milligrams of iron per 100 g; Daily Value is 18 mg.
Highest-potassium foods, ranked
Ranked by milligrams of potassium per 100 g; Daily Value is 4,700 mg.
Lowest-carb foods, ranked
Ranked by lowest total carbohydrate (g) per 100 g.
Highest vitamin C foods, ranked
Ranked by milligrams of vitamin C per 100 g (USDA FoodData Central). FDA Daily Value: 90 mg.
Highest-magnesium foods, ranked
Ranked by milligrams of magnesium per 100 g (USDA FoodData Central). FDA Daily Value: 420 mg.
References & methodology
- Data source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service — FoodData Central (public domain). Each food links to its individual record.
- Method: Ranked by lowest calories (kcal) per 100 g. Ties are listed in dataset order; the table shows the top 25.
- Daily Values: FDA Nutrition Facts label, 2016 update (adults and children aged 4+).
- Scope: ranked across the 177 common foods in the NutriFactsHub database; it is a representative shortlist, not every food in existence.
- Last reviewed: June 2026.
Cite this page
NutriFactsHub. “Lowest-calorie foods, ranked.” https://www.nutrifactshub.com/best/low-calorie-foods