Visualizing future behavior: Effects for snacking on biscuit bars, but no effects for snacking on fruit

Participants (N=223) were randomized to: visualise snacking on fruit; visualise snacking on biscuit bars; or no visualisation; and intentions and attitudes towards fruit and biscuit bars, immediate selection of fruit or biscuit bars, and subsequent consumption were measured. No effects of visualising snacking on fruit were found once background variables were taken into account. Visualising snacking on biscuit bars however resulted in greater intentions to consume biscuit bars. No other effects were found. These findings suggest that specifics of the visualised target behaviour may be important in visualisation. Further investigation is needed before recommending visualisation for increasing fruit consumption.