Calories in
lettuce, cos or romaine, raw
17 kcal per 100 g Lettuce, cos or romaine, raw contains 17 calories per 100 grams, or about 8 calories per cup shredded. Per 100 g it provides 1.2 g protein, 3.3 g carbohydrate and 0.3 g fat.
By calories that splits 63% carbohydrate, 24% protein, 13% fat.
Calories in a typical serving
Per-100 g figures are useful for comparison but nobody eats 100 g of anything on purpose. These are the USDA's own household measures.
| Serving | Grams | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup shredded | 47.0 g | 8 | 0.6 g | 1.5 g | 0.1 g |
| 1 leaf inner | 6.0 g | 1 | 0.1 g | 0.2 g | 0.0 g |
| 1 leaf outer | 28.0 g | 5 | 0.3 g | 0.9 g | 0.1 g |
| 1 head | 626.0 g | 106 | 7.7 g | 20.6 g | 1.9 g |
Full nutrition, per 100 g and per cup shredded
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per cup shredded |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 17 kcal | 8 kcal |
| Protein | 1.2 g | 0.6 g |
| Total fat | 0.3 g | 0.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.0 g | 0.0 g |
| Carbohydrate | 3.3 g | 1.5 g |
| Fibre | 2.1 g | 1.0 g |
| Sugars | 1.2 g | 0.6 g |
| Sodium | 8.0 mg | 3.8 mg |
| Potassium | 247.0 mg | 116.1 mg |
| Calcium | 33.0 mg | 15.5 mg |
| Iron | 1.0 mg | 0.5 mg |
| Vitamin C | 4.0 mg | 1.9 mg |
| Vitamin A | 436.0 µg | 204.9 µg |
| Cholesterol | 0.0 mg | 0.0 mg |
| Water | 94.6 g | 44.5 g |
USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (FDC ID 169247). A dash means the nutrient was not measured for this item, which is not the same as zero.
How lettuce, cos or romaine, raw compares
Among the 209 vegetables and vegetable products items on this site, lettuce, cos or romaine, raw ranks 184 of 209 by calorie density, against a category average of 62 kcal per 100 g — so it is about 73% less calorie-dense than typical for its group.
It carries 7.2 g of protein per 100 calories, a moderate protein contribution.
To burn off one cup shredded (8 kcal), a 70 kg adult would walk for roughly 2 minutes — see the walking calculation on our sister site, or pick a different activity. Treat that as a sense of scale rather than a rule: eating and moving are not a simple ledger.
Questions
How many calories are in lettuce, cos or romaine, raw?
Lettuce, cos or romaine, raw contains 17 calories per 100 g, which works out to about 8 calories per cup shredded. It also provides 1.2 g of protein, 3.3 g of carbohydrate and 0.3 g of fat per 100 g.
What is the macro breakdown of lettuce, cos or romaine, raw?
By calories, lettuce, cos or romaine, raw is roughly 63% carbohydrate, 24% protein and 13% fat. That makes it a predominantly carbohydrate-based food.
How long does it take to burn off a cup shredded?
About 2 minutes of ordinary walking for a 70 kg adult (MET 4.0). That is a rough guide for scale, not a prescription — appetite and activity interact in ways a simple subtraction does not capture.
Is this figure exact for the lettuce, cos or romaine, raw I bought?
No. These are USDA reference values, averaged across samples. Real foods vary with variety, ripeness, growing conditions, cut, brand and how they were cooked — 10–20% either way is normal. Use them for planning, not precision.
Similar foods
Closest in calorie density within vegetables and vegetable products.
Source: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy — public domain. Full USDA description: "Lettuce, cos or romaine, raw". General information only — not medical or nutrition advice. Values are averages for a food type and vary by brand, ripeness and preparation.