Objectives <p>Given limitations in theoretical scope, clarity, and psychometric soundness of existing mindful eating scales, this study aimed to adapt and validate the Chinese version of the Mindful Eating Scale (MES-C) among college students, providing a culturally appropriate and reliable assessment tool.</p> Method <p>An initial pool of revised items was developed based on the original MES. A two-stage cross-sectional design was employed: Sample 1 (<i>n</i> = 603) for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and item refinement, and Sample 2 (<i>n</i> = 511) for model comparison, internal consistency, and criterion-related validity, as well as Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model.</p> Results <p>The final MES-C retained 22 items across six factors: Act with Awareness, Acceptance, Non-reactivity, Awareness, Flexibility, and Structured Eating, supported by Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) with superior interpretability. Internal consistencies were acceptable (<i>ω</i> = 0.65 to 0.82), except for Non-reactivity (<i>ω</i> = 0.53). Criterion validity analysis revealed significant associations with related constructs (e.g., emotional eating, mindfulness) and supported criterion validity. The MIMIC model indicated that gender and BMI affected the six-factor structure.</p> Conclusions <p>The study validates the factor structure of the MES-C. The results indicate that assessing mindful eating through distinct subscales provides a nuanced and culturally appropriate understanding of the construct among Chinese adults. This validation not only extends the theoretical understanding of mindful eating in non-Western contexts but also provides a reliable instrument to support future research and interventions promoting healthy and mindful eating behaviors in China.</p> Preregistration <p>This study is not preregistered.</p>