This study analyzed the food consumption of 99 pregnant adolescents assisted by Assis Chateaubriand Maternity Hospital, located in the city of Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil. The data were collected by interview at the hospital prenatal service and by home visit. The questionnaire contained questions about socieconomic information and included a 24-hour food recall. Results showed unbalanced and monotonous diets. It was demonstrated that 63.6% of the diets were low in calories and more than half of them were normal in proteins, high in lipids and low in carbohydrates. Some micronutrients, such as iron, calcium, folic acid, zinc and vitamin B1, were lower than the recommended values. The authors suggest the implementation of an education program addressed to the prenatal care service, involving food and nutrition during pregnancy. This program should explore the knowledge and feeding practices that already exist and help the pregnant adolescents to make healthier food choices according to their social level.
feeding; pregnancy; adolescence
