For armchair quarterbacks everywhere, the Super Bowl is not just a game.

It's the game. And it's one of the few times that - when it comes to sensible eating - all bets are off. In fact, gobs of people will consume as many — if not more — calories while watching the Super Bowl then they did at Thanksgiving Dinner (approximately 3000 calories on average) plus alcohol! It's such a high calorie day that the Super Bowl coincides with - what I call - the official end of all New Year's resolutions ... people feel oddly entitled to 'eat like football player'.

That said, it doesn't have to be that way. Now, I'm not foolish enough to suggest that you prepare carrot sticks and pass around the sparkling water. It is a party after all. You can still serve hearty food, and have plenty of tasty snacks on hand. With a little planning and some nifty ingredient substitutions, the lighter fare will taste just as good. So here are some tips (from me) and a few terrific recipes courtesy of Celebrity Chef Phillip Andriano, Corporate Chef from Chefs Diet, to make your Super Bowl party a success.

Before the crowd arrives, take steps to set a super table.

Warm up with plenty of fruits, vegetables and some lean protein. Then line up the appetizers with Chef Phillip's Super Bowl Nachos and Fat Free Spinach & Yogurt Dip.

For the main course, a pot of his turkey chili comes off the bench with an easy way to score nutritional points.

Dessert choices to wrap up a winning day include brownies made with cocoa, trifle made with frozen fruit, non-fat yogurt and angel food cake. Whatever your game plan, score extra points by making sure the beverages on your play list include a mix of alcoholic and nonalcoholic choices.

Whether you tune in for the championship, the halftime show or the ground-breaking commercials, you won't miss one minute of the action if you keep things simple with these make-ahead dishes and effortless buffets that include some of your own game-day choices.