The content of nitrites and nitrates in whole day’s food of children at preschool age have been examined. Meals consisted of three dishes had been taken from one of the kindergardens in Łódź from November 1998 to January 1999. The highest permissible daily intake of nitrites (0,2 mg NaNO₂) and nitrates (5 mg KNO₃) in the evaluation of the degree of exposure was considered. The assumed average body weight of 4-6 years-old-child was 20 kg. The content of nitrates and nitrites by the use of colorimetric method with Griess reagent and cadmium column for nitrates reduction was determined. The quantity of nitrates and nitrites in children whole day diet ranged from 55,2 to 530,8 mg KNO₃ and from 0,0 to 19,0 mg NaNO₂, respectively.