Red Cabbage vs Cabbage: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Red cabbage has 31 calories and 1.4 g of protein per 100 g, while cabbage has 25 calories and 1.3 g of protein. Red cabbage is higher in calories and protein.

Red cabbage and cabbage are both popular vegetables with unique flavors and nutritional benefits. This comparison will highlight their differences in calories, protein, and other nutrients.

What Is the Difference Between Red Cabbage and Cabbage?

Red cabbage is a variety of cabbage with a deep purple color, known for its slightly peppery flavor and high antioxidant content. It is often used in salads, slaws, and as a garnish. Cabbage is a leafy green vegetable that can be green, purple, or white, commonly used in salads, soups, and fermented dishes like sauerkraut. It is low in calories and a good source of fiber.

Red Cabbage vs Cabbage: Nutrition Side by Side

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional values of red cabbage and cabbage per 100 g.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Red cabbage (raw)	Cabbage (raw)
Calories	31 kcal	25 kcal
Protein	1.4 g	1.3 g
Carbs	7.4 g	5.8 g
Sugar	3.8 g	3.2 g
Fat	0.2 g	0.1 g
Fiber	2.1 g	2.5 g
Sodium	27 mg	18 mg

Which Is Better, Red Cabbage or Cabbage?

For weight loss: Cabbage has fewer calories at 25 compared to red cabbage's 31 calories, making it a slightly better option for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: Red cabbage contains 1.4 g of protein, while cabbage has 1.3 g, making red cabbage the better choice for protein content.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Red cabbage has 7.4 g of carbs and 3.8 g of sugar, while cabbage has 5.8 g of carbs and 3.2 g of sugar, making cabbage lower in both.

How to Track Red cabbage and Cabbage Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when estimating vegetable intake due to their low calorie density. 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 provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Red cabbage has 1.4 g of protein, while cabbage has 1.3 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Cabbage has 25 calories, whereas red cabbage has 31 calories.

What is the fiber content in red cabbage?

Red cabbage contains 2.1 g of fiber per 100 g.

What is the sugar content in cabbage?

Cabbage contains 3.2 g of sugar per 100 g.

How much sodium is in red cabbage?

Red cabbage contains 27 mg of sodium per 100 g.

What are the carbohydrate values for both vegetables?

Red cabbage has 7.4 g of carbs, while cabbage has 5.8 g of carbs per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Red cabbage has 31 calories per 100 g.
• Cabbage has 25 calories per 100 g.
• Red cabbage contains 1.4 g of protein.
• Cabbage contains 1.3 g of protein.
• Red cabbage has 7.4 g of carbs.
• Cabbage has 5.8 g of carbs.