How many calories do you think you consume every time you visit a restaurant? A recent report on NBC News says that more often than not, you may be underestimating your fat intake.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School interviewed more than 3,000 individuals who ate at six different fast-food restaurants in the US about the kind of food they ordered and how many calories they thought they consumed. Based on their receipts, researchers found that adults ate approximately 836 calories in one meal, while kids and teens ate more than700. The worrisome part is that both age groups think that they consumed 175 calories less than what they actually did.

Harvard researcher Jason Block and his colleagues note, "At least two-thirds of all participants underestimated the calorie content of their meals, with about a quarter underestimating the calorie content by at least 500 calories."

This doesn't mean that you need to be an obsessive calorie counter. What the study points out is that it's important to always be aware of how much you eat. Burgers and fries are okay once in a while, but don't make it your daily lunch or dinner fare. Balance your diet with the right amount of fruits, vegetables, meat and fish.

(Photo by Ingrid Muller via sxc.hu)