It's been estimated that the average UK citizen consumes around 7,000 calories* on Christmas Day alone. Factor in a few rounds of parties with family and friends, and you've got a recipe for some serious remedial work on your dietary regime come January.

But it doesn't have to be that way. A little bit of sensible thought about your Christmas eating habits, and you'll be able to hit the New Year with your healthy lifestyle intact. Don't worry, we're not suggesting you should cut back on the seasonal treats altogether - after all, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a little celebration. But we've got a few ideas to help you enjoy the festivities, and stay healthy.

One important thing to do is keep eating regular meals. You might think it'd be better to cut out the odd breakfast to compensate for going crazy at a big dinner - but in fact the healthiest thing to do is to stick with your regular habits. Even if you do eat a little too much on one day, make the next day a new start rather than carrying the punishment over.

It's also crucial to keep up other aspects of your healthy lifestyle over Christmas. Maintaining your exercise routine is important - for one thing, it'll help to boost your metabolism and make you feel less like overindulging. And of course, it goes without saying - don't forget to include Benecol® foods! It's easy to let something like that go what with all the Christmas hullabaloo, but you only get the cholesterol lowering effects of Benecol® if you consume the recommended amount daily. As soon as you stop, your cholesterol returns to the same level as before.