Reduced physical activities, sedimentary lifestyle, choice of energy-rich and nutritionally poor foods are the characteristics of the "Western" lifestyle that has become ubiquitous not only in Western countries, but also in Mediterranean countries. Public health education program for primary school children and their parents on the importance of healthier eating habits and regular physical activity for overall health was conducted in Zagreb and Split (Continental and Adriatic region of Croatia) during 2020. The aim of the program called “PETICA-play for health”, was to compare eating and lifestyle habits and knowledge on the nutrition of parents and children. The influence of socio-economic characteristics on the eating habits regarding fruit and vegetable intake in adults and children was also examined, and thus the indirect influence on the Mediterranean diet was observed. The analysis of eating and lifestyle habits indicated differences in eating and general habits of children and parents, depending on the city in which they live, and in Split there is a trend of abandoning the Mediterranean diet. Furthermore, in both cities, no statistically significant difference was observed between socioeconomic characteristics and eating habits in parents and children (p> 0.05).