Bitter gourd leafy tips have 30 kcal per 100 g. The tender growing tips of the bitter melon vine. Less bitter than the fruit — used in Filipino and Southeast Asian soups.
How should I track Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), leafy tips?
Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), leafy tips is high in magnesium. For consistent tracking of Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), leafy tips, weigh it raw. Cooking method changes both weight and calorie density — steaming barely changes anything, but roasting with oil or frying can double the calories. A systematic review (Whitton et al., Adv Nutr 2022) found vegetables are omitted from food logs 2–85% of the time, often because people assume they are "free" calorically. While most vegetables are indeed low-calorie, the fats added during cooking are not. Log the oil, butter, or dressing separately to keep your tracking accurate.