The dietary habits were assessed in a population of over five thousand persons aged 35 to 64 years living in an urban area (Warsaw) and an agricultural-industrial area (Province of Tarnobrzeg). The differences in the dietary habits of these populations were related to the frequency of meals, their nutritional value and the assortment of food products. In Warsaw, as compared to the Tarnobrzeg area, four meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper) were taken more frequently. In the rural population lunch was taken by only 20—30% of the individuals, while in both populations and in both sex groups over 90% ate dinner. The analysis of the assortment of food products in the daily food ration showed its limitation. Meat and processed pork were more frequent in the urban diet, milk and eggs in the rural diet. Despite this monotonous diet and absent habit of regular taking of meals 85—90% of the population during the study had adequate diets without drastic abnormalities.