We often choose sweet snacks, in spite of our best intentions to eat healthy food.

585 participants were asked by Dutch researcher, to choose one among four snacks including an apple, a banana, a candy bar and a molasses waffle. Half of the people vote for the apple or banana snacks.

But when actual snacks were presented, a week later, 27 percent of those who had picked the healthy one, alter to the candy bar or waffle. And more than 90 percent of those who had chosen unhealthy snacks, stuck with it. The study is published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

The researchers concluded that, though we are in control of our intentions but our real choices are often made impetuously, even reflexively.

“An extensive gap between healthy snack choice intentions and actual behavior was demonstrated,” said study leader Pascalle Weijzen.

“Despite that gap, the findings suggest that, individuals who plan to make a healthful choice are more likely to do so than those who plan to make unhealthful choices. Because above than 50 percent of the population seems to have no intention at all of making a healthful choice”.

Identifying tools by which this vast majority can be provoked to choose a healthful snack is strongly needed.