Quick Answer
The number of calories in a carrot with hummus depends on the size of the carrot and how much hummus is used. On average, a medium carrot with 2 tablespoons of hummus contains about 95 calories.
Calculating Carrot Calories
The calories in a carrot can vary based on its size:
| Carrot Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| Small (5 inches) | 25 calories |
| Medium (7 inches) | 35 calories |
| Large (9 inches) | 45 calories |
As you can see, a medium 7 inch carrot contains about 35 calories. Carrots are very low in calories since they are made up of mostly water and fiber.
Now let’s look at the calories in hummus.
Calculating Hummus Calories
Hummus is made from chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and spices. It contains more calories than carrots since it contains healthy fats from the olive oil and tahini.
Here are the calories for 2 tablespoons of store-bought hummus:
| Hummus Type | Calories |
|---|---|
| Original Hummus | 60 calories |
| Roasted Red Pepper Hummus | 70 calories |
| Spicy Hummus | 60 calories |
As you can see, 2 tablespoons of regular hummus contains about 60 calories. The flavored varieties may be slightly higher.
Total Calories in a Carrot with Hummus
Now let’s put this together to calculate the total calories in a medium carrot with 2 tablespoons of regular hummus:
| Food | Calories |
|---|---|
| Medium carrot | 35 calories |
| 2 tbsp hummus | 60 calories |
| Total | 95 calories |
So on average, a medium 7 inch carrot with 2 tablespoons of regular hummus contains about 95 calories.
This makes carrots and hummus a very healthy, low-calorie snack that also provides important nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber and plant-based protein.
Ways to Reduce Calories Further
If you want to reduce the calorie count even more, here are some tips:
– Use a smaller carrot. A small 5 inch carrot would contain only 25 calories instead of 35 calories.
– Use just 1 tablespoon of hummus instead of 2. This would save about 30 calories.
– Use hummus made from chickpea water (aquafaba) instead of oil. The aquafaba version has about half the calories.
– Use a hummus variety that is lower in fat like the spinach hummus or red pepper hummus. These save about 10 calories per serving compared to original hummus.
– Substitute fresh lemon juice for part of the olive oil in homemade hummus recipes. This reduces calories from fat.
So in summary, by choosing smaller carrots and less hummus, you can easily make this snack under 50 calories or even as low as 25 calories.
Nutritional Benefits of Carrots and Hummus
Beyond being low in calories, carrots and hummus provide important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants:
**Benefits of Carrots**
– High in vitamin A – important for eye health. Just one medium carrot provides over 200% of the RDI for vitamin A.
– Contains vitamin K, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, thiamine and magnesium.
– High fiber – one medium carrot has 3g of fiber, which aids digestion.
– Antioxidants like beta-carotene and lutein – help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
**Benefits of Hummus**
– Provides plant-based protein – 2 tablespoons contains about 2g protein.
– High in iron, folate and magnesium which supports blood health.
– Contains antioxidants from olive oil, chickpeas and tahini.
– Prebiotic fiber feeds the good bacteria in your gut microbiome.
– Phytonutrients in chickpeas help reduce cholesterol.
So in addition to being low in calories, carrots and hummus provide a powerful combination of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that support optimal health.
Tips for Serving Carrots with Hummus
Here are some tips for serving carrots with hummus in a healthy and delicious way:
– Opt for longer, thinner carrots rather than short stubby ones. The longer carrots can scoop up more hummus per bite. Baby carrots also work great.
– Serve the hummus in a shallow bowl to make it easy to dip the carrots in.
– For added flavor and crunch, sprinkle the carrots with sesame seeds, crushed pistachios or paprika before dipping into the hummus.
– Include other fresh vegetables for dipping like celery sticks, cucumber slices, bell pepper strips or broccoli florets.
– Try swirling the hummus with olive oil, lemon juice and minced garlic in the bowl before serving for extra zip.
– Substitute roasted red pepper or black olive hummus for variety.
– For kids’ lunches, send carrots and hummus in a divided bento box or stacking containers.
– Hummus also makes a great sandwich spread or veggie wrap filling when paired with carrots and other fresh veggies.
So in summary, opt for long thin carrot sticks, season the hummus, and add other dipping vegetables to make this snack as tasty and filling as possible.
Conclusion
A medium carrot dipped in 2 tablespoons of regular hummus contains about 95 calories. This calorie count can be lowered by choosing smaller carrots, using less hummus, or picking lower fat hummus varieties.
Carrots and hummus supply vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber that provide great health benefits. Enjoy this plant-powered snack duo to help meet your daily nutrition needs!
