The Holiday season is a delicious time of year. The feasting starts with Thanksgiving and ends with New Years Day. Christmas is the main event though. Celebrating with friends and family sure is fun, but it's a nightmare for your cholesterol levels. Having high cholesterol is very bad for your health. High numbers can lead to cardiac arrest. Low cholesterol levels are usually no big deal, but in rare cases when you have low levels of LDL cholesterol -- a low total cholesterol level -- you could develop various ailments. The risks of cancer, depression, anxiety and preterm birth/low birth rates all spike with low LDL levels.

What foods can you eat and which should you stay away from at Christmas dinner? Salads are always a great choice, but lots of dressing can counteract the nutritional value of the greens. Adding high quality beef, free range chicken or meat substitutes such as soy and tofu are also great tasting, low cholesterol options. Grilled Salmon is another tasty addition that has vast health benefits. Salmon is rich in monounsaturated fats. This is a healthy fat that lowers bad cholesterol and raises good cholesterol. Other foods with high levels of monounsaturated fats include green olives and almonds.

If you decide to have a protein-rich dinner try substituting lower quality meats with cuts with a better lean to fat content. Anything 85 percent lean and above is fine, especially as fat melts off when thrown on a grill. Pinto and kidney beans are also very high in protein and help to keep you feeling full. Stay away from deep frying food like Turkey. If you're going to be grilling, make sure to use nonstick cooking sprays or extra virgin olive oil instead of butter.

What foods are particularly bad for your cholesterol levels? If you guessed sweets you are correct. Candies are high in sugar and cookies are things to eat in moderation and not by the handful. Whole milk, cheese, whole eggs and pies are all Christmas day staples, but they are also not good for you. The best things you can eat are lots of fruits and vegetables with a moderate amount of lean meat.

Are you planning on having a healthy meal this Christmas? Feel free to share your favorite recipes below.