Bajra vs Barley

Per 100 g, Bajra has 348 kcal and 11 g protein, while Barley has 316 kcal and 10.9 g protein.

Bajra

348
kcal per 100 g
11 g protein

Barley

316
kcal per 100 g
10.9 g protein

Nutrition compared, per 100 g

Both foods are shown per 100 g so the numbers are directly comparable. A single serving of each is a different size, so serving-for-serving figures would not tell you much.

Nutrient Bajra Barley Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 348 kcal 316 kcal better 9%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 11 g 10.9 g about the same
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 61.8 g 61.3 g about the same
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 5.4 g 1.3 g better 76%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 11.5 g 15.6 g better 26%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 0.8 g 0.1 g better 88%
"Better" marks the more favourable value for a general healthy-eating goal, not a judgement about the food overall. Differences under 5% are treated as equivalent.

Which is better for weight loss?

Barley

Barley is the lighter choice at 316 kcal per 100 g against 348 for Bajra — about 9% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Bajra a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Barley

Both carry a similar amount of protein (11 g and 10.9 g per 100 g), so Barley takes it on the calorie cost — 3.4 g of protein per 100 kcal against 3.2 g. You get the same protein for less of your daily budget.

Bajra vs Barley — common questions

Bajra has more calories — about 348 kcal per 100 g compared with 316 kcal for Barley.

They are close. Bajra has 11 g and Barley has 10.9 g of protein per 100 g.

Barley is the lighter choice at 316 kcal per 100 g against 348 for Bajra — about 9% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Bajra a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Both carry a similar amount of protein (11 g and 10.9 g per 100 g), so Barley takes it on the calorie cost — 3.4 g of protein per 100 kcal against 3.2 g. You get the same protein for less of your daily budget.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 664 kcal and 21.9 g protein per 100 g of each. Indian meals are usually built from pairs like this, and mixing a grain with a protein source generally makes for a better-balanced plate than either on its own.

For most everyday goals Barley has the edge, mainly on calorie density. Per 100 g, Bajra has 348 kcal and 11 g protein, while Barley has 316 kcal and 10.9 g protein. Healthy eating depends far more on total daily intake and portion size than on picking one of these two.
Full Bajra nutrition & serving sizes
Full Barley nutrition & serving sizes

Data source: nutrition values are drawn from the Indian Nutrient Databank (INDB), Vijayakumar et al., Curr Dev Nutr 2024;8(7):103790, used under CC BY 4.0, and derived from the ICMR-NIN Indian Food Composition Tables. Values vary with recipe, oil used and regional style.

General information only, not medical advice. See our disclaimer.