Crispy Green Helps Families Navigate the Sweetest Season of the Year

— Sugarless Author Dr. Nicole Avena Shares Five Simple Strategies for Balancing Sweets and Snacks from Halloween Through the Holidays —

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Halloween may last one night, but the candy doesn't disappear on Nov. 1. It can linger for weeks, just as Thanksgiving desserts, holiday parties and seasonal treats begin arriving.

Crispy Green®, maker of Crispy Fruit® freeze-dried fruit snacks, is teaming up with Dr. Nicole Avena, neuroscientist, nutrition expert, and author of Sugarless: A 7-Step Plan to Uncover Hidden Sugars, Curb Your Cravings, and Conquer Your Addiction, to help families navigate a season filled with sweets and celebrations without taking an all-or-nothing approach to treats.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three in five Americans age 2 and older consume more than the recommended amount of added sugars. Sugary drinks are the largest single source, accounting for 24% of added sugar intake, followed by desserts and sweet snacks at 19%.

"Halloween candy and holiday desserts can absolutely be part of enjoying the season," said Avena. "Rather than focusing on eliminating sweets, families can become more aware of where added sugars are coming from and make simple choices throughout the day that help create balance."

The Sweetest Season Giveaway

To celebrate the sweetest season of the year, Crispy Green and Dr. Nicole Avena are teaming up for The Sweetest Season Giveaway, running Oct. 5 through Oct. 16. Three winners will each receive a copy of Sugarless and a Crispy Green Prize Pack featuring four of the brand's top fruit varieties.

Enter The Sweetest Season Giveaway here.

Together, Crispy Green and Avena offer five strategies for navigating the stretch from trick-or-treating through the holidays.

1. Don't Send Kids Trick-or-Treating Hungry

Before children head out with their candy bags, Avena recommends giving them something to eat so candy isn't the first thing they reach for when they're hungry.

"Going into an environment filled with food when you're extremely hungry can make it harder to make intentional choices," said Avena. "A snack beforehand can help kids enjoy their Halloween treats without candy becoming their dinner."

Crispy Fruit® is made with one ingredient, 100% pure fruit, with no added sugar or preservatives, making it an easy pre-trick-or-treat snack.

2. Don't Make Halloween Candy the Villain

Rather than concentrating exclusively on the candy bowl, Avena recommends looking at added sugar across the entire day, including foods and beverages that may not seem obviously sweet.

"If you're trying to reduce added sugar, don't put all the attention on a few pieces of Halloween candy," said Avena. "Becoming aware of the added sugar you're consuming throughout the day can help you decide where changes actually make sense."

3. Let Fruit Do Some of the Sweetening

Fruit contains naturally occurring sugars, giving families another option when they're looking for something sweet without turning to foods with added sugar.

"Sweetness doesn't have to come exclusively from foods with added sugar," said Avena. "Fruit can satisfy that desire for something sweet while also providing nutrients that candy doesn't."

Freeze-drying gives Crispy Fruit® its naturally sweet taste and crunch. Available in seven fruit varieties and convenient 4-packs, it's easy to keep on hand for lunchboxes, after-school snacking, and holiday travel.

4. Remember That Sugar Doesn't Always Come on a Plate

Candy and dessert may get most of the attention this time of year, but Avena says families should also pay attention to what they're drinking.

"We often think about sugar as something we're eating, but what we're drinking matters, too," said Avena. "Looking at beverages can be one of the simplest places to identify added sugar you may not realize you're consuming."

5. Keep Snacks Within Easy Reach

Between school activities, holiday shopping, travel, and parties, normal routines can quickly disappear. Avena recommends planning for those moments rather than depending on willpower when hunger hits.

"When you're hungry and busy, you're likely to reach for what's convenient," said Avena. "Keeping simple options within reach makes it easier to make the choice you intended to make."

Portable and mess-free, Crispy Fruit® can be kept in lunchboxes, bags, or desk drawers, helping busy families keep a grab-and-go fruit snack within easy reach when fresh fruit may not be practical.

From Halloween Candy to Thanksgiving Pie

For Crispy Green, the goal isn't to take the treats out of the holidays, but to give families another way to think about the choices surrounding them.

"We're not suggesting that families trade their Halloween candy for fruit or skip Thanksgiving dessert," said Angela Liu, founder and CEO of Crispy Green. "Crispy Green has always been about making real fruit simple and convenient. Working with Dr. Avena gives us an opportunity to help families better understand added sugar and make informed choices while still enjoying everything that makes this time of year special."

Where to Find Crispy Fruit®

Find Crispy Fruit® in the produce section or the healthy snacks section of grocery and natural food stores, including the Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market, or shop online at Amazon.com and CrispyGreen.com.

About Crispy Green®
Crispy Green® has provided families with healthy snacks to fuel their active lifestyles for more than 20 years and is committed to Using Food as a Force for Good®. Crispy Green® delivers 100% pure fruit Crispy Fruit® as a grab-and-go snack that satisfies and energizes without sacrificing taste, while also adding more fruit to the diet.

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Fairfield, N.J., Crispy Fruit® is the top-selling freeze-dried fruit snack in the U.S. The category-leading Crispy Fruit® line of 100% pure, freeze-dried fruit is made from only the finest, non-GMO fruits with no added sugar (*not a reduced-calorie food).

SOURCE Crispy Green