Pancake vs Poha

Per 100 g, Pancake has 203 kcal and 5.7 g protein, while Poha has 120 kcal and 2.3 g protein.

Pancake

203
kcal per 100 g
5.7 g protein

Poha

120
kcal per 100 g
2.3 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 Pancake Poha Difference
Calories Fewer calories for the same weight 203 kcal 120 kcal better 41%
Protein More protein helps with fullness and muscle 5.7 g better 2.3 g 60%
Carbs Lower carbs suits low-carb and diabetic diets 20.5 g 21.3 g about the same
Fat Lower fat means lower calorie density 10.8 g 3 g better 72%
Fiber More fibre improves fullness and digestion 0.7 g 1 g better 30%
Sugar Less sugar means a gentler blood-sugar response 3.3 g 0.7 g better 79%
"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?

Poha

Poha is the lighter choice at 120 kcal per 100 g against 203 for Pancake — about 41% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Pancake a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Which is better for muscle gain?

Pancake

Pancake is the stronger protein source, with 5.7 g per 100 g against 2.3 g for Poha. To match that from Poha you would have to eat roughly 2.5 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Pancake vs Poha — common questions

Pancake has more calories — about 203 kcal per 100 g compared with 120 kcal for Poha.

Pancake has more protein — 5.7 g per 100 g against 2.3 g for Poha.

Poha is the lighter choice at 120 kcal per 100 g against 203 for Pancake — about 41% fewer calories for the same weight on your plate. That does not make Pancake a bad food; it means the portion has to be smaller to fit the same calorie budget.

Pancake is the stronger protein source, with 5.7 g per 100 g against 2.3 g for Poha. To match that from Poha you would have to eat roughly 2.5 times the volume, which is usually the limiting factor when you are trying to hit a protein target.

Yes. Combining them gives roughly 323 kcal and 8 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 Poha has the edge, mainly on calorie density. Per 100 g, Pancake has 203 kcal and 5.7 g protein, while Poha has 120 kcal and 2.3 g protein. Healthy eating depends far more on total daily intake and portion size than on picking one of these two.
Full Pancake nutrition & serving sizes
Full Poha 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.