Corn vs Sweet Potato

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

Corn

per 1 cup (164g)

177 cal
5.4g Protein
41g Carbs
2.1g Fat
Full Corn macros →
vs

Sweet Potato

per 100g baked

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

Macro Comparison Table

Macro Corn Sweet Potato Difference
Calories 177 cal 90 cal +97% Corn
Protein 5.4g 2g +170% Corn
Carbs 41g 21g +95% Corn
Fat 2.1g 0.1g +2000% Corn

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

Quick Take

Corn delivers 177 calories per serving with 5.4g protein, 41g carbs, and 2.1g fat. Sweet Potato delivers 90 calories with 2g protein, 21g carbs, and 0.1g fat. The most meaningful difference: Sweet Potato saves 87 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, Sweet Potato gives you 87 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), Corn delivers more grams of protein per calorie consumed.

For Bulking / Muscle Gain

For muscle gain, you want calories AND protein. Corn brings 177 calories — useful when you're chasing a surplus and struggling to eat enough. Corn delivers 5.4g 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

Sweet Potato fits cleanly into keto with only 21g carbs. Corn at 41g carbs uses significantly more of your daily 20-30g carb budget.

Frequently Asked

Which has more protein, Corn or Sweet Potato?

Corn has more protein: 5.4g vs 2g per serving. That's a difference of 3.4000000000000004g.

Which has fewer calories, Corn or Sweet Potato?

Sweet Potato has 90 calories per serving vs 177 calories in Corn — a difference of 87 calories.

Is Corn or Sweet Potato better for keto?

Sweet Potato is the better keto choice at 21g carbs per serving vs 41g carbs in Corn.

Is Corn or Sweet Potato better for weight loss?

For weight loss, Sweet Potato gives you more calorie flexibility (87 cal less per serving). For preserving muscle during a deficit, Corn delivers more protein per calorie. Most people on cuts benefit from Corn.

Which Is Better for Your Goal?

🔥 Weight Loss

Sweet Potato

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

💪 Muscle Gain

Corn

Higher absolute protein per serving better supports muscle protein synthesis.

🥑 Low-Carb / Keto

Sweet Potato

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:

→ Calculate My Macros (Free)

Related Comparisons

Other ways Corn and Sweet Potato stack up:

Full Corn guideFull Sweet Potato guideAll comparisons