The world’s oldest family has eaten the same meal their entire lives and even experts swear by it.

Forget Dining Out restaurantsfrom concocting crazy recipes to trying to broaden your palette, the Italian Melis family has apparently found the secret to a long and healthy life – and it all depends on this one meal.

Who is the Mélis family?

The nine siblings were known as the world’s oldest family, and in 2012 they were awarded the Guinness World Record for Oldest Combined Age 818 years old.

The Melis family received a lot of attention in 2012 (AFP/Getty)

In 2023, the Melis siblings were featured in the Netflix Documentary series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.

The show followed American Author Dan Buettner visits five “blue zone” regions of the world, including Sardinia in Italy, where the Melis family lived.

A blue zone is a region of the world where there are people claimed to live longer than average and Sardinia is one of the best known.

Buettner, expert in tips to prolong your life thanks healthy wayshighlighted the Melis family lunch they ate every day.

What is the meal?

So, what is the meal that the Melis family snacked on every day? You may want to reconsider your lunch options.

It is herbal and contains foods full of vitamins. Explaining the meal, Buettner said: “Every day of their lives they had the same meal for lunch.

“Sourdough bread, three-bean minestrone soup – chunky minestrone with garden vegetables.

“There were always three beans: a chickpea, a pinto and a navy bean.

“And then they had a little glass of red wine. I’m talking a two to three ounce glass.

“It’s not because ‘my diet requires me to do it’.

“No, they loved it.”

Samantha Cassetty Cassetty, a New York City dietitian, told Today.com, “People who live the longest and healthiest tend to eat half a cup to a cup of beans per day.”

“It’s also worth noting that the soup uses three types of beans and several vegetables.

“Research suggests that eating 30 unique plant foods per week can improve your gut diversity, a marker of a healthy gut.

“Your gut regulates health functions, like blood pressure and cholesterol, inflammation, mood, weight, and nutrient absorption. So you’re more likely to live a longer, healthier life if you have a healthy gut.”

This is why soup is so good for you (Westend61/Getty)

Why was the Melis soup recipe so healthy?

Pinto beans are packed with nutrients, protein and fiber, without the cholesterol. Chickpeas are the same.

White beans are known as a “nutritional powerhouse” according to Healthline because they’re packed with fiber and protein and are a good source of micronutrients, including folate, magnesium, and vitamin B6.

Where is the Melis family now?

In recent years, members of the Melis family have died. Consolata Melis died in 2015 at the age of 108 and was her city’s longest-serving citizen, The Guardian reported in 2021. She was the eldest in a family of nine. His sister, Claudina, died in 2016 at the age of 103, Maria died at 100, and Antonio died at 97.