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Local Chef Nik Fields offers Thanksgiving hosting tips

Phoenix's Chef Nik Fields is personal chef to Arizona Cardinals football player Chris Johnson (CJ2K) and many others.
Queen Creek Sun Times Staff
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner is already challenging enough. Who needs the extra stress of walking away with an enormous grocery bill? 
 
Here are a few tips by the queen of sustainability and gourmet food producer in the Phoenix area, Chef Nik Fields of Chic Chef Co. She will help you enjoy the holiday season while protecting your pocketbook:
  1. Go shopping in your pantry first - "The majority of the time you have a ton of items already in your pantry. Look to see what you already have and build a menu around it," said Fields.
  2. Make a list - Create a list and stick to what’s on the list only. This will allow you to have a budget and stick to it.
  3. Cook side dishes from scratch - Buying side dishes is time effective, but it costs more and is less healthy to do so.
  4. Portion Control - Buy the proper amount of food. Portion control is crucial: 50 percent vegetable, 30 percent protein & 20 percent carb.
  5. Forget the meat - Opt for a meatless Thanksgiving. Use hearty vegetables like roasted mushrooms or squash as key dishes.
  6. Cook what’s on sale - Weekly store ads come out on Sundays. See what’s on sale and build your menu around it. If one store runs out, keep in mind, most stores' prices match.
  7. Have a potluck - Share the dinner experience with family and friends. Allow everyone to bring a dish.
  8. Skip Decor - Use food as a centerpiece, large pumpkins, squash or even the food on tiered platters with fresh herbs is always appealing.
  9. Plan for Leftovers - Purchase storage containers and portion out Thanksgivings dinner for lunches later throughout the week.
  10. Buy Generic - Save money and guests will never know your secret.
Chef Nik is personal chef to Arizona Cardinals football player Chris Johnson (CJ2K) and many others. She has been featured in "People Magazine," "The Doctors" and more. Fields' philanthropic efforts to provide food and clean water to villages in the Dominican Republic has garnered international acclaim. Her nonprofit organization Waste Not Want Not (WNWN Inc.) encourages households and restaurants to limit food waste.