How Many Calories Are In Roma Tomatoes

Last Tuesday, I held a Roma tomato in the grocery store like it was a tiny red grenade. My brain whispered, how many calories are in this thing? I bought a whole bag anyway.

Later, I did the research. The answer is both hilarious and slightly insulting to the tomato. It's basically nothing.

The Short Answer: Not Many

A typical Roma tomato weighs about 2 ounces. That whole thing has roughly 11 calories. Yes, eleven.

A single strawberry is about 4 calories. So one Roma is like three strawberries. Except you don't have to hull anything or pretend you're at a fancy brunch.

A single almond is about 7 calories. So a Roma is roughly one and a half almonds. One and a half is not a snack; it's a rounding error.

Let's Do the Math (Without Falling Asleep)

Per 100 grams, Roma tomatoes have around 18 calories. Most of that weight is water—about 94 percent. The rest is fiber, natural sugar, and a whisper of protein.

A whole pound of Romas is roughly 82 calories. A medium banana is about 105 calories. So you could eat an entire pound of tomatoes and still come out ahead—but why would you?

Roma tomatoes are denser than beefsteaks. They have fewer seeds and less gel, so they feel meatier.

That means they pack a tiny bit more calorie punch per bite. We're talking 18 versus 16 per 100 grams. Big whoop.

Why So Few Calories?

Tomatoes are basically water balloons with a red coat. That water fills your stomach and tricks you into feeling full. Meanwhile, fiber does its slow work without adding much fuel.

Compare that to a potato chip. A single chip can be 10 calories. So two chips equal one whole Roma tomato—two chips—which isn't even a proper dip delivery system.

Roma Tomato Calories and Nutrition (100g)

Or think about a single M&M. That little candy shell packs 4 calories.

So a Roma is about three M&Ms. But who eats just three M&Ms? Nobody—that's why tomatoes win.

Real-Life Comparisons (Because Numbers Are Boring)

A Tic Tac is about 2 calories. So a Roma is five and a half Tic Tacs.

But Tic Tacs are tiny and come in a plastic box. The tomato is a whole fruit. Perspective.

A single tortilla chip runs 10 to 15 calories. So one Roma is like half a chip. That's a sad half.

But you can eat ten Romas for 110 calories. That's fewer than a grande latte (190 calories).

I once ate six Romas in one sitting because they were on sale. That was 66 calories. I felt full and virtuous.

Then I ate a chocolate chip cookie. That was 150 calories. The tomato didn't stand a chance.

The "Negative Calorie" Myth

You've heard the rumor: celery and tomatoes burn more calories to digest than they contain. Not true. Chewing and digesting burn a tiny bit, but not enough to matter.

Roma Tomato Nutritional Information - NutritionFactsHub.com

You won't lose weight by eating fifty Romas a day. You'll just spend a lot of time in the bathroom.

Trust me on that one. I learned it after a particularly ambitious salsa-making session.

How to Enjoy Them Without Turning Into a Tomato

Slice a Roma on toast with a pinch of salt. The bread adds about 70 calories, but the tomato is innocent. It's a guilt-free topping that actually tastes like something.

Toss chopped Romas into a salad. The calories from the tomato are basically a rounding error.

You can pile them high and still have room for dressing. Just don't drown it in ranch.

Make a quick bruschetta. The olive oil adds calories, but the tomato itself is practically a ghost. It's there for flavor and color, not for wrecking your day.

The Takeaway

A Roma tomato is a snack you can feel smug about. Eleven calories for a whole one. That's less than a single bite of a glazed donut.

So next time you're hungry and staring into the fridge, grab a Roma. It won't fix your life, but it won't break your calorie budget either. And if anyone asks, you can say you're basically eating water with a fancy red coat.

I have a bag of Romas and a saltshaker calling my name. Eleven calories each? I can afford to answer.