The Calories and Nutrition in One Baby Carrot

Baby carrots are reputed to be a healthy, nutrition-packed snack. But how many calories are in one single baby carrot, exactly? And how do baby carrots' calories and nutritional values compare to regular carrots'? Do both kinds of carrots have vitamin A and fiber? Are baby carrots ​really​ good for you?

Read on to learn more about baby carrots' calories and nutrients, and to find out how baby carrots compare with regular-sized carrots nutrition-wise.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's FoodData Central database gives a single baby carrot two different calorie values, based on the baby carrots' size. A large baby carrot -- defined as weighing 15 grams -- has 5.25 calories, while a medium baby carrot — one that weighs 10 grams — has 3.5 calories.

That means that snackers who eat 10 baby carrots in one sitting are taking in 52.5 calories if the baby carrots are large, and 35 calories if the baby carrots are medium-sized.

Either way, the crunch of baby carrots is so satisfying, you just might be able to swap them for potato chips! But beware: If you dip your baby carrots into a savory sauce or dressing — or sauté them in butter or oil — you will add both fat and calories to those beautiful little babies.

If food prices were based on nutritional value, the humble baby carrot would be far more expensive. Check it out:

Like regular-sized carrots, baby carrots get their bright orange hue from beta-carotene, an antioxidant that defends cells from damaging molecules known as free radicals. According to research published by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, carrots in general are one of the richest dietary sources of beta-carotene available.

"In the body, beta-carotene converts into vitamin A," they explain. "We need vitamin A for good vision and eye health, for a strong immune system, and for healthy skin and mucous membranes."

Per the USDA, one medium baby carrot contains 639 micrograms of beta-carotene and 1380 international units of vitamin A.

The American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF) recommends baby carrots as a good source of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which "may decrease the risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration and even cataracts."

One single medium baby carrot contains 35.8 micrograms of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are usually measured together, the AMDF explains.

Like regular carrots, baby carrots are high in fiber. One single large baby carrot contains almost half a gram of dietary fiber, per the USDA.

According to the Mayo Clinic, dietary fiber is essential for a healthy diet because it not only prevents constipation but helps with "maintaining a healthy weight and lowering your risk of diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer."