The authors investigated the dietary intake of children aged 11-14 years and of adolescents aged 15-18 years in the districts of Malacky and Prievidza. A total of 950 probands were examined, 431 children and 519 adolescents. The authors focused their attention on the dietary regime and confirmed some shortcomings typical for the whole population and contemporary lifestyle. Inmcomplete break- fast, low participation in school meals, frequent consumption of „fast foods“, frequent consumption of cold suppers with a predominance of smoked meat products. The authors investigated the frequency of consumption of selected commodities and quantified the daily intake of basic nutrients, mineral substances and vitamins by analysis of 24-hour recall. In some of the subjects they quantified the fatty acid intake and the ratio in the total energy. Analyses of the usual intake indicated frequent consumption of meat products, persisting low fish consumption, slightly increasing but still inadequate consumption of milk, cheese and fermented milk products and fruit.Analyses of dietary histories confirmed marked transgression of recommended protein allo- wances by 17-77%, whereby the increase of vegetable proteins is slower. The recommended intake of fats was surpassed by 3-41 % and there were shortcomings in the intake of calcium - as low as 50-70% of the recommended allowance.Despite the increasing intake of fruit and vegetables in both age groups the vitamin C intake was inadequate - 50-64% of the recommended allowance.

        Key words: children - adolescents - dietary pattern - recommended dietary allo- wances