By Deborah Salomon

Feature Writer

Maybe we shouldn't mess around with Super Bowl goodies. This is a uniquely American holiday, after all.

Bring on the wings, pizza, nachos and beer. Bring on a big take-out tab and an end to New Year's healthier-eating resolutions.

Super Bowl parties beg a Tex-Mex component. For the main dish on Feb. 7, fill a big baking pan with Tex-Mex lasagna: Layer no-boil pasta sheets, salsa (half buzzed in blender, half left chunky) mixed with canned tomato sauce and spicy V-8 juice, browned ground chicken or turkey and shredded reduced-fat cheese of your choice. Bake until bubbly. Sprinkle with finely crushed corn chips during last 15 minutes.

Replace greasy tortilla chips with homemade. Cut a stack of 7-8 inch low-fat flour tortillas into wedges. Spray with oil, sprinkle with seasoning and bake in low oven until crisp. For a creamy dip, mix salsa with half as much fat-free ranch dressing.

If the Colonel can make "wings" from formed boneless chicken, you should substitute, too. Buy a quantity of chicken drumsticks, preferably small and skinned. If not, pull off skin. Marinate overnight in spicy sauce. Roast on rack, brushing with sauce, until done. Run under broiler.

The dip: Process a block of reduced-fat cream cheese with a bottle of low-fat blue cheese salad dressing. Pile celery sticks beside the drums.

Healthy chili can be hearty chili. Slice turkey or pork cutlets into thin strips. Spray skillet with oil and brown strips with chopped onion and garlic. Add this to three to four cans chili-ready beans and one can of Mexican-style tomatoes; simmer for about 30 minutes - or much longer in a slow-cooker. Serve a pan of yellow cornbread alongside.

Assemble man-sized sandwiches by the loaf. Slice a long loaf of Italian bread horizontally. Layer with very thinly sliced turkey pastrami, chopped olives, reduced-fat cheese, roasted pepper strips (spray with oil before roasting), sweet onions and long romaine leaves. Mix mustard, low-fat mayo and horseradish for a tangy spread. Cut sandwich crosswise into moderate portions.

Finish with a yummy, simple, colorful dessert. In clear plastic glasses layer cubes of store-bought angel food cake with canned lemon pie filling and fresh or frozen berries. Finish off with a spoonful of fat-free whipped topping.

Cheaper, healthier, easier. Now, just chill the Bud Light and turn up the volume.

Contact Deborah Salomon at debsalomon@hotmail.com.