Preparing a Thanksgiving meal for some is second nature and an enjoyable labor of love. For others, especially first-time hosts or food preparers, it may be a bit overwhelming.

A University of Illinois Extension nutrition educator is hoping some tips she has today may make things a bit simpler. Caitlin Mellendorf says there are four keys you want to remember when preparing your Thanksgiving feast: clean, separate, cook, and chill.

If you're doing a potluck-style meal, you'll want to be mindful of the two-hour window you have to preserve all that food. She encourages all food preparers to have a thermometer handy.

Extension.illinois.edu/food has plenty of resources for those preparing a holiday feast this week or just simply wanting to learn more about food preparation in general.