Michelle Obama is co-founding a company focusing on healthier food and beverage products for children called Plezi Nutrition. The company is highlighting reducing sugar content and lowering sweetness while adding in the nutrients kids need, all with the goal of replacing sugar-laden drinks and snacks.
Plezi Nutrition’s first product is a drink called Plezi. It has 75% less sugar than average leading fruit juices, no added sugar, plus fibre and nutrients, such as potassium, magnesium, and zinc. The beverage comes in Sour Apple, Blueberry Blast, and Orange Smash flavours. The company plans to expand into additional beverages and snacks.
Along with the backing of the former first lady, Plezi Nutrition will benefit from the growing interest among many consumers to watch what their children are eating and drinking amid the high rates of obesity in the world.
The company’s first product, its namesake beverage Plezi, is intended to replace sugary drinks like soda and juice that do not support kids’ health and to help promote healthier habits. It targets school-aged children ages 6 to 12, when drinking milk or water is more difficult. The challenge for the company will be to do that with a product that tastes good and is actually something children will want to consume, especially if they are used to offerings loaded with sugar.
Plezi’s first ingredient is water, and it also contains fruit juices and stevia leaf extract. The drinks have no added sugar and are about 35 calories per bottle.