How Many Calories in an Apple

There are literally dozens of varieties of apples including McIntosh, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Fuji to name a few. They vary by shape, color or shade (of the skin) and flavor profile.

On average, a small, raw, unpeeled apple (2¾” diameter) provides 77 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g protein, 21 g carbohydrate and 4 g dietary fiber. A large apple (3¼” diameter) provides about 116 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g protein, 31 g carbohydrate and 5 g dietary fiber. During fall, when apples are ‘in season’ you may buy them by the bag from an apple orchard. These offer the best flavor but tend to be very small in size (2½” diameter). The smallest apples offer about 53 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g protein, 14 g carbohydrate and 2 g dietary fiber. The skin is where most of the dietary fiber is located. So, unless it is absolutely essential to peel apples for a recipe, eat them as-is!

Fruit, especially fresh, unprocessed fruit makes for a healthy snack, meal accompaniment or dessert. Though most fruits are fairly low in calories, they contain more calories (typically) than vegetables. This is because fruits have natural sugar and are higher in total carbohydrate content. Calories from any source, even fruit, ‘count’ toward your total daily energy requirement. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that Americans consume at least 2 cups, or the equivalent, of fruit daily.