Jicama is a calorie-counter's dream. The Latin American tuber has a texture along the lines of water chestnuts, and is described as having a "sweet, nutty" taste. It keeps its texture whether cooked or raw.

Nutritionally, a cup of sliced raw jicama (about 4-1/2 ounces or 130 grams) has no fat, no cholesterol, few calories, little protein, yet meaningful amounts of vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. Specifically, the numbers work out this way:

  • 50 calories
  • 1 g protein
  • 6 mg sodium
  • 12 g carbohydrates
  • 195 mg potassium
  • 2 g dietary fiber
  • 16 mg calcium
  • 23 mg phosphorus
  • 26 mg vitamin C
  • and trace amounts of iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin A.

Related Article: What is jicama?