January's Find: Pretty Portion Control Plates

January is prime time for reinventing ourselves. New year, new me: sounds simple, right? This year, I resolved to eat cleaner—and less, exercise more, kick caffeine, read more books (OK, read more e-books), and floss every day. Piece of cake, right?

Yet by mid-month—just about now—my willpower starts to flicker and I fear my New Year’s resolutions are about to get kicked to curb like a dried out Christmas tree. Circa Valentine’s, I might be right back to inhaling Hershey’s Kisses to make it through an afternoon slump.

Couldn’t we all use a little help making our resolutions stick?

Enter Slim & Sage dishes, pretty porcelain plates designed to keep portions in check. Informed by experts and research from Stanford, Harvard, Mayo Clinic, NIH, and the American College of Cardiology, these stylish yet scientific plates vow to cut the calories you consume by 59 percent.

How? First off, they’re smaller: measuring a petite 9-inches compared to standard 12-inch dinnerware. Plus, they employ a stylish geometric pattern as a disguised blueprint for what to eat: one-quarter lean protein, one-quarter whole grains, one-half veggies.

Not only did I fall head over heels for the look and feel of these plates, but I was also inspired by the challenge of coming up with creative combinations to satisfy the recommended proportions. Here’s a helpful list of basic mix-and-match foods to experiment with. Of course, the preparation and seasoning is up to you.

LEAN PROTEINS: Tofu, tempeh, seitan, beans, lentils

WHOLE GRAINS: Quinoa, farro, brown rice, whole wheat pasta

VEGGIES: Broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, kale, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, string beans, potatoes, squash

Please share your ideas for tasty trios in the comments below!