How Many Calories Are In A Slice Of Cantaloupe? | Quick Facts Guide

What Counts As A Slice

Most people picture a wedge cut from a halved melon. Grocers often sell fruit by size (small, medium, large), and a common plate portion is one eighth of a melon. Typical weights for those wedges vary with the melon’s size: ~55 g for a small wedge, ~69 g for a medium wedge, and ~102 g for a large wedge. Using the standard 34 kcal per 100 g reference, those portions land at ~19, ~23–24, and ~35 calories.

Calories By Common Portion Sizes

The table below converts measured weights to calories using the 34 kcal per 100 g baseline drawn from laboratory data. It also includes cup measures that many recipes use.

Portion	Typical Weight	Estimated Calories
Small wedge (about 1/8 small melon)	~55 g	~19 kcal
Medium wedge (about 1/8 medium melon)	~69 g	~23–24 kcal
Large wedge (about 1/8 large melon)	~102 g	~35 kcal
1 cup, cubed	~160 g	~54 kcal
10 melon balls	~138 g	~47 kcal

Those numbers come straight from the same nutrient density used in official databases and educator pages that rely on FoodData Central’s lab analyses. A cup measure sits around ~54 calories, which matches the USDA SNAP-Ed nutrition display for cubed cantaloupe.

Why A Cantaloupe Wedge Is So Light

Cantaloupe is mostly water with modest natural sugars and trace protein. That’s why even a generous plate slice stays low in energy while tasting sweet. If you’re building a meal around fresh produce, wedges like these fit well alongside yogurt, cottage cheese, or a handful of nuts. They add volume and hydration with a gentle calorie load.

Calories Per Cantaloupe Slice With Context

Calorie math for a wedge is simple proportional scaling. The fruit delivers about 34 calories per 100 g. Multiply that figure by your slice’s weight in grams and divide by 100. A kitchen scale gives the most precise result, but the size bands above keep you in the right ballpark for everyday plating.

How Weight Translates To Sugar And Fiber

At this density, a medium wedge sits near 5–6 g of natural sugar and roughly half a gram of fiber. That’s mild compared with many snacks. If you’re trying to lower overall intake, pairing produce with lean protein can help you feel satisfied without pushing numbers up. Readers who like to stock lower-energy staples will also appreciate a quick scan of low-calorie foods across different categories.

Variation: Ripeness, Size, And Cut Style

Not every melon is identical. Ripeness nudges water and sugar ratios; farm variety and growing conditions also matter. Still, shifts are small in daily practice. Your main swing comes from portion size and how you cut: a thin breakfast wedge versus thick dessert servings or a bowl of cubes.

Whole Melon To Plate: Practical Ways To Portion

Halve the fruit, scoop the seeds, and slice radial wedges. For salads, cross-cut wedges into cubes for easy mixing with berries and a squeeze of lime. For snack boards, keep rind on for neat hand-held pieces.

What “Cup” Means In Recipes

Recipes often call for cups of cubes, not wedges. One cup of cubes sits around 160 g. That equates to ~54 calories, which lines up with educator charts that draw from FoodData Central’s reference values.

Nutrition Beyond Calories

Even small wedges deliver standout vitamin C and carotenoids with very low sodium and fat. Hydration is strong as well; the flesh is near 90% water. It’s an easy way to round out breakfast plates or lighten a heavy lunch without losing color or flavor.

How A Slice Fits Different Goals

Weight Management

A medium wedge brings the sweet note many people want after a meal while adding roughly two dozen calories. That trade helps you stay on track without feeling deprived.

Training Days

Before a workout, a couple of wedges provide quick carbs with minimal heaviness. After training, pair with a protein source to support recovery.

Kids’ Plates

Finger-friendly wedges encourage fruit intake and hydration. Keep seeds scraped clean and offer a small fork for cubes if you’re packing lunch boxes.

Food Safety For Cut Melon

Once a melon is cut, treat it like a perishable food. Chill promptly and serve cold. Federal food guidance calls for refrigerating pre-cut produce and storing perishables at 40°F (4°C) or below; see the FDA’s page on selecting and serving produce safely for clear handling steps. Outbreak reports over the years have included pre-cut melon items, which is why that chill step matters for home kitchens too.

How We Calculated The Calories

All slice estimates use the standard density of 34 kcal per 100 g for raw cantaloupe. That value appears in nutrient tools that pull directly from USDA FoodData Central. For household sizes, the 1 cup cubed measure is ~160 g with ~54 calories as shown on the USDA educator page. Typical wedge weights (small, medium, large) are common produce references used to translate a whole fruit into plate-ready cuts. Multiply weight by 0.34 to get energy in kilocalories.

Worked Examples

Small wedge: 55 g × 0.34 ≈ 18.7 → ~19 calories.

Medium wedge: 69 g × 0.34 ≈ 23.5 → ~23–24 calories.

Large wedge: 102 g × 0.34 ≈ 34.7 → ~35 calories.

Serving Ideas That Keep Numbers Low

Fresh fruit stands on its own, but a few pairings make it shine while keeping energy modest.

Breakfast Pairings

• Plain Greek yogurt with a medium wedge on the side.
• Oats cooked with water, topped with a few melon cubes and toasted seeds.
• Egg scramble plus chilled slices for a sweet finish.

Snack Plate Combos

• Wedges with a sprinkle of chili-lime seasoning.
• Cubes threaded onto skewers with berries.
• Cottage cheese bowl topped with diced cantaloupe.

Cups, Wedges, And Balls: Which Measure Is Best

Use wedges when plating trays, cups for recipe accuracy, and melon balls if you want party-friendly shapes. The calorie math doesn’t change; only the weight does. If precision matters for your goals, weigh a representative portion once and use that as your personal reference.

Preparation Style And Calorie Impact

Cut shape changes presentation, not density. Here’s a quick view of common styles and what a typical helping looks like on a plate.

Style	Usual Serving Weight	Approx. Calories
Two thin wedges	~110 g total	~37 kcal
Melon balls (10 pieces)	~138 g	~47 kcal
Fruit salad scoop	~80 g	~27 kcal

Buying, Ripening, And Storing

Choose fruit with a sweet aroma and a bit of give at the blossom end. Rinse the outer rind before cutting. Once sliced, keep pieces chilled and eat within a couple of days for best texture. For fridge space, transfer cubes to a shallow, covered container so cold air can reach them evenly.

Smart Swaps And Menu Planning

If you enjoy a sweet finish after meals, a plate wedge swaps neatly for dessert. You get color, moisture, and a gentle sugar lift without a big calorie hit. On days when you need extra energy, add nut butter on whole-grain toast and keep the wedge as a fresh side. That blend gives you a steady mix while the fruit keeps the plate lively.

Keyword Variation: Calories Per Cantaloupe Slice (With Simple Math)

Many readers search for a quick number they can trust. A solid shorthand is “about 25 calories per average wedge.” If your slice is thinner or thicker than usual, use the quick multiplier: grams × 0.34. You’ll be very close either way.

Bottom Line For Everyday Eating

A single wedge is a light, refreshing add-on. It sits near two dozen calories, carries helpful vitamin C, and pairs well with breakfasts or protein-rich snacks. If you want a broader plan for balancing plates through the day, you might like our short read on a daily calorie needs guide that helps you size meals and snacks without fuss.