The Super Bowl is about so much more than the game to players and fans alike: it's also about the food. Many NFL teams now keep nutritionists or dietitians on staff to ensure that the players are fed and fueled for peak performance. But for the occasion of the Super Bowl, even the best athletes have their pet splurges - and so do fans. We reveal who's eating what - and where - on game day. New England Patriots players indulged in turkey on the field on Thanksgiving, but for most of the year they keep to regimented diets HOW TO EAT LIKE A PRO: NFL PLAYER'S DAILY DIETS WHEN IT'S NOT THE SUPER BOWL An NFL player's diet varies depending on the period of the season, the position he plays, the time he spends on the field and his own personal metabolism, former Seattle Seahawks diet consultant Dr Susan Kleiner told Daily Mail Online. 'In general, there's the lineman people who block and the people who run,' she said. 'They all need agility, but it's a question of do you run into a wall or are do you need to be able to run as fast as you can.' And the times have changed, so while football players still need to consume a lot of calories it's now just as much about quality as quantity, and the focus is on whole foods. But time is also of the essence. At the height of training, many players just don't have the time to sit down and eat as many calories as they need to fuel them, so their diets are often part smoothies, shakes and supplements. SUPER BOWL STARS' FAST FOOD FAVORITES Both the Rams and the Patriots love indulging in fast food. They have favorite spots in every state, including The Varsity in Atlanta, where the game will be held. So NJ.com decided to ask some of the top players what their orders were to get an insight into how they eat. Here is what they ordered in one sitting: PATRIOTS Adam Butler, defensive tackle Chili cheese dog bacon cheeseburger grilled cheese french fries bottled water & shake fried apple pie a la modeTed Karras, offensive lineman Two chili cheese dogs cheese fries large chocolate shake fried apple pieDanny Shelton, defensive tackle Medium frosted orange shake large vanilla shake BLT two triple bacon cheeseburgers cheeseburger two large fries onion rings two 5-piece nuggets a SpriteRAMS Rodger Saffold, guard Two double bacon cheeseburgers three chili cheese dogs french fries onion rings large chocolate shake fried apple pie a la modeJamil Demby, offensive guard Two fried apples triple bacon cheeseburger chili cheese dog chili cheese fries large chocolate shake 5-piece nuggets Rob Havenstein, offensive tackle Chili dog (no mustard) cheese dog with all fixins and onions on top double bacon cheeseburger onion rings small frosted orange shake a large sweet tea Depending on weight, a player may need to consume between 3,500 to 6,000 calories a day, drink the equivalent of two or three cups of milk, and half as many ounces of water as he ways in pounds. According to Dr Kleiner, a typical day's meals might go like this: MORNING Several starches, like whole grain bread, oatmeal, potatoes or cream of wheat Several servings of fruit, to bolster antioxidants for better recovery One whole egg, plus two or more egg whites - preferably with some vegetables or avocado mixed in After lighter morning activities or reviewing recordings of games, players might grab a smoothie that 'hides vegetables and fruit,' before hitting the field for practice. MID-DAY Depending on time and position, mid-day meals vary. Quarterbacks may have more practices and need to stay light, so they might have a light turkey sandwich or another smoothie or protein shake. Blockers and other players have more time to bulk up at lunch and are more likely to have: Chicken breast or sliced turkey Potatoes or another starch Several servings of vegetables - the more diverse the better - steamed or sauted Salad of dark leafy greens Quinoa bowl Another couple servings of fruit Then it's time to 'sit again, digest and train again,' Dr Kleiner says, and perhaps grab another smoothie on the way to the field. EVENING 'Dinner should be robust,' Dr Kleiner says. It might include a large spread of: Six ounces or more of a lean protein - particularly fatty acid-rich salmon A cup of potatoes, quinoa or both Another two or more servings of vegetables and fruit DESSERT - YES, DESSERT! A bowl of berries with whipped cream Frozen yogurt (a small serving) EVENING SNACK OPTIONS Easy-to-eat dried fruit High-protein nuts A glass of milk or casein protein shake to supplement protein in dairy A decaf latte or hot chocolate while unwinding with familyGAME DAY: CARB-LOADING GALORE - AND WHY PLAYERS LOVE 'COMFORT FOODS' TO EASE NERVES There are some cardinal rules: Nothing unusual: Players will not be given food they've never had before Nothing fatty: That sits in the gut too long No fiber-rich salads: That takes too long to digest A BIG BREAKFAST Jeff Saturday, former NFL player and Super Bowl winner, said he would have two breakfasts on the morning of game day, with a lie-down in between. It's common to have oatmeal, carb-heavy pancakes, a steak, or eggs with meat. LUNCH AT 3PM Kick-off is at 6.30pm, so it's a good idea to eat at around 3pm, giving enough time for digestion. Lunch will usually be something starchy like pasta with a meaty sauce. Toast, sausages, and vegetable stir-fry are also good options. THE SNACK: PB&J - THE ULTIMATE NERVE-EASING TREAT As it turns out, even the best players in the league get game-day jitters. And what could be better for a nervous stomach than some nostalgic comfort food? For many players - in the NFL and the NBA alike - there's nothing like a good old-fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Kansas City Chiefs dietitian Leslie Bond told CNN. The sweet sandwiches are best served with a tall glass of milk, too, for the full throw-back-to-childhood effect, she added. PB&J has even been called the 'secret addiction' of a surprising number of professional basketball players, according to ESPN. AFTER THE GAME: FEAST Both the winners and the losers are treated to a buffet (though the losers tend not to attend theirs). It usually consists of wings, burgers, chips - any kind of indulgence they wish. For Tom Brady, it could be avocado ice cream and a significantly large portion of almonds. FAN FAVORITES: THE SURPRISING WATCH PARTY DISHES AMERICANS ARE COOKING UP THIS YEAR If you thought that football watch parties are all about chips, dips, wings and fried everything, this year's hottest recipes may redefine your idea of kick-off cuisine. Google Trend's has (literally) mapped out what fans and each state are planning to whip up for their watch parties this year. Taking a predictable lead was buffalo chicken dip - which is really more like a rich baked casserole of chicken, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, buffalo wing sauce and ranch dressing - is the most searched-for recipe in eight states. But from there the list gets a bit unpredictable. Instead of savory snacks, fans in Washington, Tennessee, Wyoming, South Dakota, Louisiana Hawaii, Florida and Arizona are going sweet and making cakes or cupcakes. Rather than state classics like fried okra and and cornbread, Mississippians are planning to try a healthier snack on Super Bowl Sunday: granola bars. And in Maine, fans are choosing more exotic far and cooking up Paella, the classic Spanish rice and protein dish. MOST-SEARCHED SUPER BOWL SUNDAY RECIPES IN EACH STATE This Google Trends map shows what dishes Americans are making in each state Alabama: White chicken chili Alaska: Nachos Arizona: Cake Arkansas: Fried chicken wings California: Baked chicken breast Colorado: Broccoli cheese soup Connecticut: Buffalo chicken dip Delaware: Chocolate peanut butter cake Washington, DC: Bagel pigs in a blanket Florida: Cake Georgia: Buffalo chicken dip Hawaii: Football cupcakes Idaho: Salads Illinois: Jalapeno poppers Indiana: Fried rice Iowa: Irish stew Kansas: Buffalo chicken dip Kentucky: Taco salad Louisiana: Cupcakes Maine: Paella Maryland: Pizza Massachusetts: Gluten free pretzels Michigan: Pizza Minnesota: Tacos Mississippi: Granola bars Missouri: Broccoli cheese soup Montana: Lentil soup Nebraska: Pigs in a blanket Nevada: Vegan cheesy bacon spinach dip New Hampshire: Cakes and cupcakes New Jersey: Buffalo chicken dip New Mexico: Pea and peppercorn mash New York: Spinach dip North Carolina: Cobb salad North Dakota: Baked nachos Ohio: Buffalo chicken dip Oklahoma: Chicken noodle soup Oregon: Banana bread Pennsylvania: Chicken wings Rhode Island: 7-layer dip South Carolina: Turkey chili South Dakota: Cupcakes Tennessee: Cake Texas: Spinach dip Utah: Bacon wrapped smokies Vermont: Lasagna Virginia: Buffalo chicken dip Washington: Cakes West Virginia: Buffalo chicken dip Wisconsin: Buffalo chicken dip Wyoming: CakeAll rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility