How to keep the weight off during the holidays

Gluten free. Allergen friendly. Vegan. Paleo. Awesome.

The holidays are officially among us. I saw my first Christmas commercial this week and became giddy with excitement. My giddiness wasn't for the Christmas trees and twinkling lights that will soon bedazzle New York City; or the hysteria of holiday shopping and the rush from a great Black Friday sale; or for the anticipation of Santa Clause ho, ho, ho-ing his way down my chimney . For those of us obsessed with all things baking, the holidays are our time to shine. We dazzle with donuts and cookies and candies galore, we delight with pies and pastries and peppermint and more! But holiday baking isn't all gingerbread love stories and sugar plums dancing over our heads...

Enter The Gastronomy Grinch of the holiday season, the keeper of all things too many calories, too many carbs, too much sugar, and too much fat. For many of us, the gluttony of high holiday baking comes with a price to pay and it's not in dollars, my Bubble friends. It's in a little measurement we here refer to as pounds. It's like the "Freshman 15" all over again...only in a less-than-sixty-day time frame.

But this year, I'm bound and determined not to let that happen to us gingersnap-loving, cookie-dunking, frosting-licking sweet toothers. I'm partnering with one of my favorite brands, Growing Naturals, to promote making healthy choices during the holidays in a Winter Weight Challenge.

From now until Thanksgiving, I'll be giving away a prize each week of a bag of BG Bakes Gluten Free Allergy Friendly Flour and Growing Naturals Vegan Protein Powder. As Growing Naturals says, it's easier to keep it off than take it off!

To enter is easy! Just tag your healthy, holiday photos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with:

#bgbhealthyholiday

We'll pick our favorite photo each week. To commence this season of health in a typically not-so-healthy season, I came up with a very special recipe. Now you can slurp an apple pie instead of eat one with a fraction of the calories.

We can't wait to see what your healthy, holiday choices are this year, so let the games begin!