Some not-so-encouraging news courtesy of TIME magazine — “According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Diabetic Association… restaurant meals may contain a whopping 18% more [calories than advertised].”

What’s most discouraging is that researchers Susan Roberts (professor of nutrition at Tufts University) and Jean Mayer (who works at Tufts’ USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging) focused their attention on fast food items that claim 500 or fewer calories — the ones most likely to be selected by calorie-conscious consumers.

The moral of this story?  When it comes to your food, the only cook you can fully trust…. is yourself.