This calculator estimates the calories and macros in a single slice or serving of homemade coleslaw when you know the recipe batch. Enter the amounts of cabbage, carrots, mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar in your batch, set the number of slices or portions you plan to cut, and the tool works out per-serving energy, fat, carbs and protein.
It is useful for meal preppers, home cooks, and anyone tracking daily calorie intake who wants to enjoy coleslaw without guessing. The optional batch-weight field also gives calories per 100 g, which makes it easy to compare your slaw with packaged deli versions.
Ingredient values are based on USDA reference data, and optional apple or onion fields let you account for the extras that often go into a homemade bowl.
🥗 Batch ingredients
Enter the amount of each ingredient in the whole batch. Use grams or ounces — the unit selector converts automatically.
Optional additions
⚙️ Portion settings
Step-by-Step Guide
- Enter your batch ingredients. Add the weight of each ingredient you used — cabbage, carrot, mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar. You can switch between grams and ounces for any ingredient.
- Add any optional extras. If your slaw contains diced apple or sliced red onion, include those amounts too.
- Set the number of slices or servings. This is how many equal portions you will cut from the batch. Most 9x13-inch trays are cut into 8 or 12 slices.
- Optionally enter the prepared batch weight. Weigh the finished coleslaw in grams to unlock calories per 100 g and the weight of one slice.
- Press Calculate. Review the per-slice calories, macros, and the full ingredient breakdown.
How the Calories Are Calculated
The calculator uses USDA FoodData Central reference values for each ingredient, expressed per 100 g of edible portion. For each ingredient the tool multiplies the weight (converted to grams) by the energy and macro densities, then divides the batch totals by the number of slices.
Because mayonnaise is by far the most energy-dense ingredient, the amount of mayo in your recipe has the largest effect on the final calorie count. A creamy slaw with 120 g of mayo can be roughly twice as calorie-dense as a vinegar-based slaw with only 40 g of mayo.
Worked Example
Classic creamy batch: 400 g cabbage + 100 g carrot + 120 g mayo + 20 g sugar + 15 g vinegar, cut into 8 slices.
Ingredient calories: cabbage 100 + carrot 41 + mayo 816 + sugar 77 + vinegar 3 = 1,037 kcal total. Per slice: 1,037 ÷ 8 ≈ 130 kcal. Fat per slice ≈ 11.3 g, carbs ≈ 13.8 g, protein ≈ 1.5 g.
If the finished batch weighs 650 g, the density is about 160 kcal per 100 g and each slice weighs about 81 g.
Standard Ingredient Values
Typical values used in this calculator, based on USDA reference data, are shown below. Real products can differ, especially mayonnaise and sugar substitutes.
| Ingredient | kcal per 100 g | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabbage, shredded | 25 | 0.1 | 5.8 | 1.3 |
| Carrot, grated | 41 | 0.2 | 9.6 | 0.9 |
| Mayonnaise, regular | 680 | 75 | 1.3 | 1 |
| Sugar, white granulated | 387 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
| Vinegar, distilled | 18 | 0 | 0.9 | 0 |
| Apple, with skin | 52 | 0.2 | 13.8 | 0.3 |
| Red onion, raw | 40 | 0.1 | 9.3 | 1.1 |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to include the dressing. Mayo and sugar can contribute 70–80% of the calories in a creamy coleslaw. Leaving them out gives misleadingly low results.
- Mixing up sliced vs. shredded weights. The values refer to the prepared, chopped ingredient weights you actually put into the bowl, not whole-head weights.
- Confusing slices with servings. If you use a 9×13-inch pan, a slice can be any size you cut. Decide the portion size first, then enter the number of slices.
- Using the batch weight as the ingredient total. The optional prepared batch weight is the finished slaw, which may be different from the sum of raw ingredients because some water evaporates or dressing is absorbed.
For the most accurate tracking, weigh your own ingredients on a kitchen scale rather than relying on volume measurements like cups, since shredded cabbage volume is highly variable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my packaged coleslaw say a different calorie count?
Store-bought deli coleslaw often lists a serving size in ounces or cups rather than slices, and the recipe may use sweetened dressing or less cabbage. Compare per 100 g values to get the fairest comparison.
Can I use this for low-fat or vegan mayo?
No — the calorie and macro values in this tool assume regular full-fat mayonnaise. For a light or vegan mayo, check the label and adjust the numbers by multiplying the result using the "Mayonnaise" row ratio. For example, a mayo with 340 kcal per 100 g gives roughly half the calories from that ingredient.
Does the vinegar or lemon juice count?
Vinegar is very low in calories (about 18 kcal per 100 g), so a tablespoon adds only about 2.5 kcal. You can still include it for completeness, but it rarely changes the rounded per-slice number.
What if I cut the batch into wedges of different sizes?
The calculator assumes all slices are equal. If you make uneven portions, weigh each slice separately to find the calories for that piece using the per-100 g batch density shown in the results.
Precision Notes
Results are best treated as estimates accurate to roughly ±10%. Actual calories depend on the specific brand of mayonnaise, cabbage moisture content, and whether you use fresh grated carrots or pre-packaged coleslaw mix. For weight-loss tracking, round your per-slice number up by 5–10 kcal to account for dressing sticking to the bowl and spoon.