First of all my research is of the food of the Holy Mountain Athos. It has long been observed that among the monks on Mount Athos there are so many centenarians. I think one reason for this phenomenon is just a special scheme for constructing nutrition.
There are three meatless days a week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Athos. These days, the monks eat only once a day: in the evening and it is very limited - usually bread, pickled olives and water. Hot meal and oil is eliminated on fasting days.
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday food is prepared with olive oil, and is also offered to drink a little wine. On Sundays and on holidays, meals can be quite varied, as well as on the table you can see the fish and seafood. The biggest holidays, Christmas and Easter, the table in the dining room is a bit like a holiday feast, where you can often see several varieties of fish and plenty of delicious. But do not think that the monks are passionate about food. A distinct culture of food consumption formed for many centuries on Mount Athos. It should be noted that in each monastery adhere to their own identity in the meal: is counted as the national identity of the monastery and cloister tradition.
The food of greek monasteries on Mount Athos are based in the kitchen of the Mediterranean peoples. Most can be found in the secular literature such a thing as a "Mediterranean diet", and so this system is power applies to kitchen Athos. This diet involves a high intake of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes (chickpeas, beans and lentils), unrefined olive oil, fish and seafood, as well as diet includes some wine.
It is also important that the monks of the Holy Mountain has never consumed meat. It is the power to protect the Athos monks from cancer, diabetes and other diseases and provide them with amazing longevity. On the table there is always wine vinegar, sea salt, olive oil (in the days when it is enabled) and the most common water. For dessert, always are put on the table some fruit: apples, kiwi, oranges, tangerines, etc.
In some monasteries there is a rule not to drink wine or water immediately after the meal, is allowed to proceed to drink only after a special responsibility monk will hit the bell. All this is described by me, obviously, is an ancient Byzantine tradition meal. In my opinion, there is much that can be learned for us useful.