Appetite (2000) 34, 5±19 doi:10.1006/appe.1999.0269, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on 1 Understanding choice of milk and bread for breakfast among Swedish children aged 11^15 years: an application of theTheory of Planned Behaviour C. Berg a , I. Jonsson a and M. Conner b a Department of Home Economics; Go« teborg University and b School of Psychology; University of Leeds (Received 2 September 1998, final revision 21June 1999, accepted in revised form 12 July 1999) The present study examined the influences of attitudes, social norms, perceived control and underlying beliefs on 11 to 15-year-olds' breakfast choices of milk with different fat content and high-fibre bread. All pupils in the 5th, 7th and 9th grades in MoÈlndal community (N  1730), Sweden, were asked to complete a questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Two weeks later, they were asked to fill in a 7-day record of food consumed for breakfast. Consumption of milk and high-fibre bread was predicted from intentions, and for milk also by perceived behavioural control. Intentions were influenced by attitudes, perceptions of significant others' preferences, and perceived control. In addition, perception of the parents' consumption (descriptive norm) of the specific food played an important role. Attitudes, norms and perceived control predicted intentions to a similar extent in each age group. Attitudes to the consumption of milk and high fibre bread were influenced by beliefs about their sensory and health aspects. Females and the oldest children had greater knowledge about the healthier alternatives and the oldest children had a tendency to choose healthier options. # 2000 Academic Press Introduction The main objective of the Swedish National action pro- gramme for nutrition (Livsmedelsverket & FolkhaÈ lsoin- stitutet, 1995) is to prevent morbidity and mortality attributed to diet-related diseases, and to diminish the social differences in the incidence of these diseases. One of the most important aims of this programme is to increase the consumption of dietary fibre and to decrease fat intake. One longitudinal study (Kelder et al., 1994) has demonstrated that food habits have their onset early in life, therefore, interventions to improve diet should start in childhood. We have, however, little detailed knowledge about which factors influence the development of food habits. If effective intervention programmes to obtain and maintain healthy food habits are to be created, we need more research on factors influ- encing food choice in children. Social factors have been shown to be more important than genetic factors for the development of individual differences in food preferences (Rolls, 1988; Rozin, 1990). Taste is one of the major motives for food choice among children and adolescents (Gummeson et al., 1996, 1997; Michela & Contento, 1986; Williams et al., 1993). It has been reported that accessibility of foods is also important (Gummeson et al., 1996; Michela & Con- tento, 1986; Story & Resnick, 1986), although children can influence what foods are cooked and purchased in the household (EkstroÈ m, Note 2). When U.S. high school students were asked about their views on adolescents' diet, their replies indicated that they were well informed about good health and nu- trition practices, but that they did not translate this knowledge into their own food choice behaviour (Story & Resnick, 1986). Associations between nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviour among adolescents have been reported occasionally (Osler & Hansen, This research was supported by the Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research, and the National Institute for Public Health. Address correspondence to: C. Berg, Department of Home Economics, GoÈteborg University, Box 122 04, S-402 42 GoÈteborg, Sweden. 0195±6663/00/010005+15 $35.00/0 # 2000 Academic Press