If you want to lose weight, or just stay fit, you shouldn't overeat - but sometimes it happens just because it's easy to underestimate how much you actually eat.
Underestimating calorie intake is a common phenomenon that can occur due to various reasons.
Here are some factors that contribute to people underestimating the calories they consume each day.
Portion Sizes
People often underestimate the actual portion sizes they consume.
It's easy to overlook the recommended serving sizes and unknowingly consume larger portions, leading to a higher calorie intake.
This can be particularly true when eating out at restaurants, where portion sizes tend to be larger than what is typically consumed at home.
Mindless Eating
Engaging in distracted or mindless eating can lead to underestimating calorie intake.
Eating while watching television, working on a computer, or engaging in other activities can cause individuals to lose track of how much they've eaten, leading to the consumption of more calories than intended.
Misjudging Healthy Foods
Certain foods, such as nuts, avocados, and oils, are considered healthy but are also high in calories due to their fat content.
While these foods offer nutritional benefits, consuming them in excess without considering their calorie density can contribute to underestimating overall calorie intake.
Underreporting
When keeping a food diary or tracking calorie intake, individuals may inadvertently underreport the amount or type of food they consume.
This can occur due to forgetfulness, intentionally downplaying certain foods, or not accurately measuring ingredients when cooking.
