Protein content
A 1 cup shredded serving of romaine lettuce contains 0.6 g of protein - only a minor source of protein, about 1% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 cup shredded (47 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 0.6 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 1.23 g |
| Calories per serving | 8 kcal |
| Protein density | 29% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 1% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Vegetables |
| Food type | Whole food |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #169247 |
A typical 1 cup shredded serving of romaine lettuce contains 0.6 grams of protein (1.23 g per 100 g), which makes it only a minor source of protein. That covers roughly 1% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 29% of the calories in romaine lettuce come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Among the 105 vegetables in the database, romaine lettuce ranks 91st by protein per serving, and 765th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against jalapeno peppers, another vegetable entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (jalapeno peppers has 0.1 g per 1 pepper).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving above is measured by volume at 47 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #169247 - "Lettuce, cos or romaine, raw" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Romaine lettuce has 1.23 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup shredded serving (47 g) provides 0.6 g.
No. Romaine lettuce is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.
A 1 cup shredded serving of romaine lettuce contains 0.6 g of protein, about 1% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Romaine lettuce is only a minor source of protein, and about 29% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against jalapeno peppers, another vegetable entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (jalapeno peppers has 0.1 g per 1 pepper).
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