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This one is a little scary, but according to a study I’ve recently stumbled across, those of us congratulating ourselves for making healthy decisions at lunchtime may just be more likely to consume unnecessary calories later in the day.

The study went like this: Brian Wansink, Ph.D. a Cornell University food psychaitrist, and author of the book Mindless Eating rounded up some test subjects, and gave them all the same 600 calorie sandwich (roast beef and cheese) for lunch. However, one test group got the sandwich in packaging from a health-conscious deli, and the other got packaging from a local fast food chain.

The result? The people who assumed they’d had a “healthy” lunch, had about 200 more calories later in the day. Wansink says they were compensating for calories they believed they’d saved during lunch.

Unfortunately, we are the only ones who can control that urge. The lesson here is that consumption decisions must be made depending on how you feel at the time, and if you make a good lunch choice, that doesn’t mean you’re supposed to have a big slice of funfetti later.

Shape Magazine suggests, that if you still need sweets later in the day, to try a piece of fruit rather than something sugary. I’m going to go ahead and agree with this advice, but throw the word “first” in there, since it’s easy to say have an apple instead of apple crisp.

Eat the apple first. If you still desperately need the crisp, then go ahead and indulge, but be aware of the decision you’re making, and keep it reasonable. Chances are, you’ll feel satisfied after your apple, and if you don’t, you’re at least building a good habit that will, in time, pay off.