Edit in JSFiddle

$('.EO,.EO tbody').children().each(function(i){
    if(i % 2 == 0) {
        $(this).addClass('even');   
    } else {
        $(this).addClass('odd');
    }

});

body {
    padding:15px;
}

h3 {
    margin:5px 0;
}

table,td {
    border:1px solid #999;
}
.odd {
    color:#faa;
}

.even {
    color:#aaf;
}

<h3>Table</h3>
<table class="EO">
	<tr>
		<td>row 1</td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>row 2</td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>row 3</td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>row 4</td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td>row 5</td>
	</tr>
</table>

<h3>Div</h3>
<div class="EO">
	<div>item1</div>
	<div>item2</div>
	<div>item3</div>
	<div>item4</div>
	<div>item5</div>
</div>