OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the food intake patterns of 2562 students aging from 14 to 19 years from public and private schools of the municipality of Toledo, Paraná, Brazil. Associations between intake patterns and gender and intake patterns and social class were also investigated. METHODS: A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to characterize food intake. Statistical analysis was based on the food guide pyramid and the variables associated with the chi-square test, using a significance level set at 5%. RESULTS: The foods with highest intakes were: bread and rice, lettuce and tomato, banana and orange, whole milk and skim milk, beef and poultry, beans, margarine and mayonnaise, sugar and candies/sweets. The association between intake frequency and family income was significant among the poorest for the following groups: breads, cereals, nuts and seeds, legumes and oils and fats. Among the wealthiest, the groups were: vegetables, fruits, milks and dairy. Regarding gender, girls consume more vegetables and sweets and boys consume more milk, legumes, oils and fats. CONCLUSION: These results show that there is a difference in intakes between genders and suggest that family income is associated with food intake among students.
adolescent; nutrition assessment; food habits; food pyramid
