Nutritional Yeast vs Parmesan: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Nutritional yeast contains 45 g of protein and 325 calories, while Parmesan has 28.4 g of protein and 420 calories. Nutritional yeast is higher in protein and lower in calories.

Nutritional yeast and Parmesan are both popular food ingredients, each offering unique flavors and nutritional benefits. This comparison highlights their differences in calories, protein, and other nutrients.

What Is the Difference Between Nutritional Yeast and Parmesan?

Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast often used as a seasoning or cheese substitute. It is rich in protein and B vitamins. Parmesan is a hard, aged cheese made from cow's milk, known for its strong flavor. It is commonly grated over dishes for added taste.

Nutritional Yeast vs Parmesan: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional values of nutritional yeast and Parmesan.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Nutritional yeast	Parmesan (grated)
Calories	325 kcal	420 kcal
Protein	45 g	28.4 g
Carbs	36 g	13.9 g
Sugar	4 g	0.8 g
Fat	5 g	27.8 g
Fiber	21 g	0 g
Sodium	30 mg	1804 mg

Which Is Better, Nutritional Yeast or Parmesan?

For weight loss: Nutritional yeast has 325 calories, while Parmesan has 420 calories, making nutritional yeast the lower-calorie option.

For muscle and protein: Nutritional yeast offers 45 g of protein compared to Parmesan's 28.4 g, making it a better choice for protein intake.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Nutritional yeast contains 36 g of carbs and 4 g of sugar, while Parmesan has 13.9 g of carbs and 0.8 g of sugar, making Parmesan lower in both.

How to Track Nutritional yeast and Parmesan Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros, especially with dense foods like cheese and nutritional yeast. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers presented are rounded reference values for educational purposes and not intended as medical advice. Always consult a professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g: Nutritional yeast from Open Food Facts (aggregated plain entries), Parmesan from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Nutritional yeast has 45 g of protein, while Parmesan has 28.4 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Nutritional yeast has 325 calories, while Parmesan has 420 calories.

What is the carbohydrate content of nutritional yeast?

Nutritional yeast contains 36 g of carbs per 100 g.

What is the sugar content of Parmesan?

Parmesan contains 0.8 g of sugar per 100 g.

How much sodium is in nutritional yeast?

Nutritional yeast has 30 mg of sodium per 100 g.

What is the fat content of Parmesan?

Parmesan contains 27.8 g of fat per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Nutritional yeast: 325 calories per 100 g.
• Parmesan: 420 calories per 100 g.
• Nutritional yeast: 45 g of protein.
• Parmesan: 28.4 g of protein.
• Nutritional yeast: 36 g of carbs.
• Parmesan: 13.9 g of carbs.