Beets vs Sweet Potato

Side-by-side macro comparison. Beets vs Sweet Potato per their standard serving sizes.

Beets

per 1 cup (136g)

59 cal
2.2g Protein
13g Carbs
0.2g Fat
Full Beets macros →
vs

Sweet Potato

per 100g baked

90 cal
2g Protein
21g Carbs
0.1g Fat
Full Sweet Potato macros →

Macro Comparison Table

Macro Beets Sweet Potato Difference
Calories 59 cal 90 cal -34% Beets
Protein 2.2g 2g +10% Beets
Carbs 13g 21g -38% Beets
Fat 0.2g 0.1g +100% Beets

Differences shown relative to Beets. Positive = Beets has more.

Quick Take

Beets delivers 59 calories per serving with 2.2g protein, 13g carbs, and 0.2g fat. Sweet Potato delivers 90 calories with 2g protein, 21g carbs, and 0.1g fat. The most meaningful difference: Beets saves 31 calories per serving — meaningful over a week of meals. Both deliver similar protein density.

When to Pick Each

For Cutting / Weight Loss

When cutting on a tight calorie budget, Beets gives you 31 more calories of headroom per serving — that's room for an extra snack, more vegetables, or a higher-protein second portion. If protein density matters more (which it does for preserving muscle on a deficit), Beets delivers more grams of protein per calorie consumed.

For Bulking / Muscle Gain

For muscle gain, you want calories AND protein. Sweet Potato brings 90 calories — useful when you're chasing a surplus and struggling to eat enough. Beets delivers 2.2g of protein per serving, which directly feeds muscle protein synthesis. The best pick depends on whether you need more total calories or more usable protein.

For Keto / Low-Carb

Beets fits cleanly into keto with only 13g carbs. Sweet Potato at 21g carbs uses significantly more of your daily 20-30g carb budget.

Frequently Asked

Which has more protein, Beets or Sweet Potato?

Beets has more protein: 2.2g vs 2g per serving. That's a difference of 0.20000000000000018g.

Which has fewer calories, Beets or Sweet Potato?

Beets has 59 calories per serving vs 90 calories in Sweet Potato — a difference of 31 calories.

Is Beets or Sweet Potato better for keto?

Beets is the better keto choice at 13g carbs per serving vs 21g carbs in Sweet Potato.

Is Beets or Sweet Potato better for weight loss?

For weight loss, Beets gives you more calorie flexibility (31 cal less per serving). For preserving muscle during a deficit, Beets delivers more protein per calorie. Most people on cuts benefit from Beets.

Which Is Better for Your Goal?

🔥 Weight Loss

Beets

Higher protein-to-calorie density + lower absolute fat = more satiety per calorie.

💪 Muscle Gain

Beets

Higher absolute protein per serving better supports muscle protein synthesis.

🥑 Low-Carb / Keto

Beets

Lower carbohydrate content fits keto and low-carb macros without burning your carb budget.

Both fit most balanced diets. These verdicts reflect macro-only comparisons — taste, satiety, cost, and personal preference also matter.

Find Your Personal Macros

The "right" food depends on your individual macro targets. Calculate yours in 60 seconds:

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Related Comparisons

Other ways Beets and Sweet Potato stack up:

Full Beets guideFull Sweet Potato guideAll comparisons