Mindful eating can help you better manage your eating habits. Even if you have already veered from your New Year’s resolution, you can still form healthy habits with these 10 mindful eating tips.

Remember, it’s not only a single meal, but rather an entire year of unhealthy choices that add up to the weight gain we resolve to lose when January rolls around. Why not make a commitment to yourself today to be more mindful of your consumption?

Try these 10 tips to bring more awareness to your eating habits:

1. Don’t skip meals. Eating healthy on a regular basis will keep you from overindulging.
2. Eat more vegetables. Fill half your plate with non-starchy, colorful vegetables. This will increase the fiber content while also adding vital nutrients.
3. Use smaller plates. The size of your plate will help you be mindful of portions.
4. Combat stress with nutrition. When your body undergoes daily stress, vital nutrients like vitamin B and C, magnesium, calcium, and zinc can be depleted. Manage stress by moving more, practicing gratitude, and eating two servings of veggies every day.
5. Slow down and chew. Eating slower allows our bodies time to send the “fullness” signals, which takes about 20 minutes. It’s easy to eat as much as twice what your body needs before your brain gets the message that you’re full.
6. Recipe makeover. Take your favorite recipe and try using healthier substitutes when cooking and baking, such as mashed bananas or applesauce instead of butter or lard in baking.
7. Plan ahead. Plan weekly meals and snacks before going to the grocery store. This helps you have healthful snacks on hand and lessens the stress of figuring out what to eat.
8. Beverage matters. Drink more water and decrease alcoholic and other high-calorie beverages. If you choose to drink, aim for moderation.
9. Balance, balance, balance. Don’t let one or two unhealthy decisions derail your goals. Long term mindful eating is about balance, it’s better to indulge here and there than binge on all those cravings. Enjoy what you desire without guilt, then bring your focus back to healthful options.
10. Move your body. When you feel healthier, you eat healthier – which then makes you feel even healthier! Go for a bike ride with your family or take your dog for a walk. Any type of movement is good for your body and digestive system.

Here’s to more mindful eating – today, tomorrow, always!