Background:  “Sense of coherence” (SOC) influences the individual´s capacity to handle events associated with health (Antonovsky, 1987). Peoples selection of eating habits may be regarded as a “life choice” (Johansson et al, 2001; Lännernäs et al, 1997; Palojoki, 1997) as it is made against the knowledge that dietary habits influence endemic diseases (Falkenberg, 2001; Wolfram, 2003).

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine if SOC is associated with food selection.

Method: The study population were 3,072 woman and 2,920 men, from the 1999 year WHO MONICA project in northern Sweden. Data were collected by the Antonovsky short SOC questionnaire (13 items)(Antonovsky,1987), and a semi-quantitative food questionnaire (84 items) (Johansson et al, 2001).

Results: Both men and woman with the lowest SOC scores consumed less healthy food like vegetables and fruits but more fat and sucrose containing products than individuals with high SOC scores (t-test, ANOVA, post hoc-test).

Conclusion: It is concluded that individuals with a low SOC score have less favorable dietary habits.