With Super Bowl XLII just days away, it's time to finalize plans for the Super Bowl party you are hosting or get some ideas for contributing to the one you are attending. The key, in my opinion, to a great Super Bowl party is the food. So, we here at About.com are going to assist you in that department whether you're throwing the party yourself or simply need ideas on what to take along with you to the event you are attending.

Home Cooking Guide Peggy Trowbridge says finger foods are a must, and I have to agree. A solid assortment of chips, dips, and salsas, along with other easy-to-serve snacks will give your guests plenty to munch on all day long. Busy Cooks Guide Linda Larson also has some great ideas for Super Bowl snacks, including mini-pizzas, Buffalo wings, potato skins, and much more.

If you're planning a low fat menu, or at least offering the option, Low Fat Cooking Guide Fiona Haynes has some terrific ideas to cut the calories. And IBS Guide Barbara Bradley Bolen offers her Super Bowl Playbook for a Healthy Gut for those of you who need something gentle on the digestive system. Southern U.S. Cuisine Guide Diana Rattray also provides an extensive assortment of snacks, sandwiches, deserts, and much more, while New England for Visitors Guide Kim Knox Beckius adds a handful of recipes, including her Boston baked beans and lobster nachos. And, of course, I have a few favorites of my own.

To round out your menu and to add a little ambiance to the occasion, Entertaining Guide Donna Pilato will teach you how to make a cake that looks like a football field, complete with goal posts and football.

In the beverages department, Cocktails & Beer Guide Colleen Graham has an A-to-Z list of cocktail and shooter recipes. And for those that are not the traditional beer drinkers, Wine Guide Stacey Slinkard explains which wines go with chips, dips, or even pepperoni pizza.

If your party is aimed more specifically at a younger crowd, Parenting of Adolescents Guide Denise Witmer will teach you how to throw a Super Bowl party for teens.