More calories are consumed on Super Bowl Sunday than any other one-day event of the year – including Thanksgiving, a top expert says.

“One survey a few years ago found that Super Bowl viewers consume up to 6,000 calories during the four-hour game, which is equal to the amount most people eat over two days,” Vicki Shanta Retelny tells Newsmax Health.

“People compete to one-up each other to make the most calorie-laden, extravagant dishes, adds Retelny, a registered dietician and author of “Total Body for Dummies,” and a blog entitled “Simple Cravings, Real Food.”

“There’s also something about football, which is a male-dominated sport, that leads to overeating high calorie, high fat and greasy foods,” she adds.

Nutritionist Dr. Keith Kantor agrees.

“Super Bowl Sunday is the extreme example of how poorly Americans eat year around,” says Kantor, founder of Nutritional Addiction Mitigation Eating & Drinking (NAMED). “We’re talking about the Super Bowl, but this type of eating is a big problem in America.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 85 percent of all chronic diseases are related to nutrition.

“Sugar and fat cause inflammation, which is a root cause of heart disease. Several high fat meals, like those eaten on Super Bowl Sunday, put you in line for a heart attack,” says Kantor. “Also, sugar sets off cravings so sweet foods and alcohol can cause people to overeat.

“Salt doesn’t set off cravings but many snack foods that taste salty are actually made with processed foods.”

Here are Kantor’s top five strategies for a healthier Super Bowl Sunday:

• Drink a glass of water in between each beer, glass of wine or other alcoholic drink you consume.
• Exercise either before or after the Super Bowl. Or take a walk during half time. This will keep your metabolism going, instead of just having the food turn into fat.
• Don’t skip meals. Eat breakfast and lunch, because if you don’t, once you get to a Super Bowl party, you’ll be famished and eat everything in sight.
• Choose protein. Go for chicken or lean meats because protein burns more calories than carbohydrates, and you’ll stay full longer.
• At a buffet, fill up one plate and don’t go back. Too often people take several small serving, and the calories add up quickly this way.

Here are Retelny’s 10 favorite Super Bowl Party snacks:

1. Artichoke Dip: Puree marinated artichokes and add a dusting of paprika or cumin. You can also puree the artichokes with basil.
2. Black bean dip: Drain one can of black beans, puree them, adding a tiny amount of olive oil for thinning. Add a dash of smoked paprika, chili powder, or a splash of sriracha sauce.
3. Guacamole: Mash up one Haas avocado and add the juice from half of a fresh lime, then add minced onions or shallots, small tomato, and cilantro.
4. Bruschetta: Top slices of whole grain baguette with diced tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil, and add salt and pepper.
5. Baked chicken wings: Bake chicken wings instead of frying them. You can do the same for French fries; either use slices of potato or buy frozen French fries and bake them in the oven.
6. Veggie-topped pizza: Use toppings like spinach, arugula, peppers, mushrooms, and any other vegetables you can think of instead of high-fat toppings like cheese or pepperoni.
7. Filled avocados: Fill halved avocados with tuna or crab salad filling.
8. Nuts: Put out bowls of pistachio nuts instead of chips. Shelling the nuts will keep people busy, and you can also buy flavored pistachios as well.
9. Chocolate-dipped fruits: Dip strawberries, pineapple, or banana slices in melted dark chocolate.
10. Cake pops: Buy cake pops instead of serving a big cake. Likewise serve bite-sized brownies instead of the regular size.