ClosePhoto:Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal/Getty ImagesIf you have a child, then you may know that the allure of soda and sugar-sweetened beverages can be strong. I grew up on soda so I get the appeal, but as a parent and registered dietitian, I have concerns about how readily available these beverages are. And I’m not the only one, either. Consuminglarge amounts of added sugarcan have negative health effects for anyone (like insulin resistance and dental decay), but especially to a growing kid. It’s why former First Lady, Michelle Obama started PLEZi, a nutrition-focused food and beverage company that’s made it their mission to provide an alternative to sodas and sugar-sweetened beverages. They’re newest launch, PLEZi Fizz, is made with no added sugar and geared towards kids ages 12 and up— but is it a good option? We asked registered dietitians to weigh in, and here’s what they had to say.Before we dig into opinions, it’s good to lay out some facts. First, our kids are consuming more added sugar than they ever have in the past. Research has shown that, on average, children and young adults ages 2 to 19 consumed 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day.That’s well above the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation that only 10% of total calories (about 10 teaspoons on a 2,000 calorie eating pattern) should come from added sugar.Sugar isn’t evil or “bad,” but like anything, if it’s regularly over-consumed, it can lead tohealth problems. This includes increased risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, oral health issues and other inflammatory diseases.After leaving office, she launched PLEZi, a company she co-founded focused on providing nutritious food and beverage options for kids. The first product launched last year, and was a line of no-added-sugar fruit drinks geared towards school-aged children 6 to 12 years old. And this spring, they’ll be adding to their lineup with a carbonated drink designed to appeal to older kids as an alternative to soda. A press releaseshares that the drink has “70% less sugar (8 grams per 8.4 ounces) than average leading soft drinks (28 grams per 8.4 ounces), no added sugar, plus 2 grams of fiber and nutrients such as potassium and vitamin C.” It will be available in three flavors: Cherry Limeade, Lemon Lime Squeeze and Strawberry Lemonade.What Do Registered Dietitians Think?“In a perfect world, we’d all grow up in food environments where the healthy choice was the easy choice. We wouldn’t need to combat sugar-sweetened drinks being the number one source of added sugars,” saysMaggie Moon, M.S., RD, Los Angeles-based nutrition consultant and best-selling author ofThe MIND Diet. “Maybe it’s because I grew up mostly eating traditional Korean food, but I didn’t grow up with a lot of soda, and I’ve never missed it.” But Moon acknowledges that if Plezi Fizz can be a contender to replace soda for some, then she’s in favor.Charleston-based registered dietitianLauren Manaker, M.S., RDN, LD, CLEC, agrees, adding that regular soda consumption can contribute to an excessive amount of added sugar to our diets, and it could be helpful for kids to consume less. “This drink provides a lower amount of calories and added sugar, which makes it a viable alternative to drinking regular soda,” shares Manaker. It’s also made with real fruit juice. Manaker points out that while there’s no added sugar, “this drink does contain natural fruit sugar, so it should still be consumed in moderation, with water being the primary source of hydration.”The drink does contain sugar substitutes in the form ofsteviaandmonk fruit, which can cause stomach discomfort and have a bitter taste to some. While most stevia and monk fruit used in the U.S. is generally classified as safe for consumption, more research is needed to clarify their safety for the long term.The Bottom LineRegistered dietitians agree that PLEZi Fizz may be helpful to have a no-added-sugar alternative to soda. Personally, I’m interested in trying it and seeing what my daughter thinks, too. But as a mom and registered dietitian, I’ll continue to recommend keeping sweetened beverage intake to a minimum. Kids are curious, so this could be a great opportunity to help them understand why high-added-sugar drinks like soda are better for special occasions than regular consumption. And alternatives like PLEZi Fizz, seltzer water and 100% fruit juice can be helpful tools in decreasing added sugar consumption.Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmitSourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.What We Eat In America, NHANES 2017-2018. (2018). InFood Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 2017-2018.https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400530/pdf/FPED/tables_1-4_FPED_1718.pdf2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Available at:https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdfNutrition, P. (2024, March 12). PLEZi NUTRITION LAUNCHES PLEZi FiZZ TO TAKE ON SODAS AND SUGARY DRINKS.PR Newswire.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plezi-nutrition-launches-plezi-fizz-to-take-on-sodas-and-sugary-drinks-302085812.html

Close

Photo:Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal/Getty Images

a photo of Michelle Obama

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal/Getty Images

If you have a child, then you may know that the allure of soda and sugar-sweetened beverages can be strong. I grew up on soda so I get the appeal, but as a parent and registered dietitian, I have concerns about how readily available these beverages are. And I’m not the only one, either. Consuminglarge amounts of added sugarcan have negative health effects for anyone (like insulin resistance and dental decay), but especially to a growing kid. It’s why former First Lady, Michelle Obama started PLEZi, a nutrition-focused food and beverage company that’s made it their mission to provide an alternative to sodas and sugar-sweetened beverages. They’re newest launch, PLEZi Fizz, is made with no added sugar and geared towards kids ages 12 and up— but is it a good option? We asked registered dietitians to weigh in, and here’s what they had to say.Before we dig into opinions, it’s good to lay out some facts. First, our kids are consuming more added sugar than they ever have in the past. Research has shown that, on average, children and young adults ages 2 to 19 consumed 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day.That’s well above the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation that only 10% of total calories (about 10 teaspoons on a 2,000 calorie eating pattern) should come from added sugar.Sugar isn’t evil or “bad,” but like anything, if it’s regularly over-consumed, it can lead tohealth problems. This includes increased risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, oral health issues and other inflammatory diseases.After leaving office, she launched PLEZi, a company she co-founded focused on providing nutritious food and beverage options for kids. The first product launched last year, and was a line of no-added-sugar fruit drinks geared towards school-aged children 6 to 12 years old. And this spring, they’ll be adding to their lineup with a carbonated drink designed to appeal to older kids as an alternative to soda. A press releaseshares that the drink has “70% less sugar (8 grams per 8.4 ounces) than average leading soft drinks (28 grams per 8.4 ounces), no added sugar, plus 2 grams of fiber and nutrients such as potassium and vitamin C.” It will be available in three flavors: Cherry Limeade, Lemon Lime Squeeze and Strawberry Lemonade.What Do Registered Dietitians Think?“In a perfect world, we’d all grow up in food environments where the healthy choice was the easy choice. We wouldn’t need to combat sugar-sweetened drinks being the number one source of added sugars,” saysMaggie Moon, M.S., RD, Los Angeles-based nutrition consultant and best-selling author ofThe MIND Diet. “Maybe it’s because I grew up mostly eating traditional Korean food, but I didn’t grow up with a lot of soda, and I’ve never missed it.” But Moon acknowledges that if Plezi Fizz can be a contender to replace soda for some, then she’s in favor.Charleston-based registered dietitianLauren Manaker, M.S., RDN, LD, CLEC, agrees, adding that regular soda consumption can contribute to an excessive amount of added sugar to our diets, and it could be helpful for kids to consume less. “This drink provides a lower amount of calories and added sugar, which makes it a viable alternative to drinking regular soda,” shares Manaker. It’s also made with real fruit juice. Manaker points out that while there’s no added sugar, “this drink does contain natural fruit sugar, so it should still be consumed in moderation, with water being the primary source of hydration.”The drink does contain sugar substitutes in the form ofsteviaandmonk fruit, which can cause stomach discomfort and have a bitter taste to some. While most stevia and monk fruit used in the U.S. is generally classified as safe for consumption, more research is needed to clarify their safety for the long term.The Bottom LineRegistered dietitians agree that PLEZi Fizz may be helpful to have a no-added-sugar alternative to soda. Personally, I’m interested in trying it and seeing what my daughter thinks, too. But as a mom and registered dietitian, I’ll continue to recommend keeping sweetened beverage intake to a minimum. Kids are curious, so this could be a great opportunity to help them understand why high-added-sugar drinks like soda are better for special occasions than regular consumption. And alternatives like PLEZi Fizz, seltzer water and 100% fruit juice can be helpful tools in decreasing added sugar consumption.Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmitSourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.What We Eat In America, NHANES 2017-2018. (2018). InFood Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 2017-2018.https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400530/pdf/FPED/tables_1-4_FPED_1718.pdf2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Available at:https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdfNutrition, P. (2024, March 12). PLEZi NUTRITION LAUNCHES PLEZi FiZZ TO TAKE ON SODAS AND SUGARY DRINKS.PR Newswire.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plezi-nutrition-launches-plezi-fizz-to-take-on-sodas-and-sugary-drinks-302085812.html

If you have a child, then you may know that the allure of soda and sugar-sweetened beverages can be strong. I grew up on soda so I get the appeal, but as a parent and registered dietitian, I have concerns about how readily available these beverages are. And I’m not the only one, either. Consuminglarge amounts of added sugarcan have negative health effects for anyone (like insulin resistance and dental decay), but especially to a growing kid. It’s why former First Lady, Michelle Obama started PLEZi, a nutrition-focused food and beverage company that’s made it their mission to provide an alternative to sodas and sugar-sweetened beverages. They’re newest launch, PLEZi Fizz, is made with no added sugar and geared towards kids ages 12 and up— but is it a good option? We asked registered dietitians to weigh in, and here’s what they had to say.Before we dig into opinions, it’s good to lay out some facts. First, our kids are consuming more added sugar than they ever have in the past. Research has shown that, on average, children and young adults ages 2 to 19 consumed 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day.That’s well above the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation that only 10% of total calories (about 10 teaspoons on a 2,000 calorie eating pattern) should come from added sugar.Sugar isn’t evil or “bad,” but like anything, if it’s regularly over-consumed, it can lead tohealth problems. This includes increased risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, oral health issues and other inflammatory diseases.After leaving office, she launched PLEZi, a company she co-founded focused on providing nutritious food and beverage options for kids. The first product launched last year, and was a line of no-added-sugar fruit drinks geared towards school-aged children 6 to 12 years old. And this spring, they’ll be adding to their lineup with a carbonated drink designed to appeal to older kids as an alternative to soda. A press releaseshares that the drink has “70% less sugar (8 grams per 8.4 ounces) than average leading soft drinks (28 grams per 8.4 ounces), no added sugar, plus 2 grams of fiber and nutrients such as potassium and vitamin C.” It will be available in three flavors: Cherry Limeade, Lemon Lime Squeeze and Strawberry Lemonade.What Do Registered Dietitians Think?“In a perfect world, we’d all grow up in food environments where the healthy choice was the easy choice. We wouldn’t need to combat sugar-sweetened drinks being the number one source of added sugars,” saysMaggie Moon, M.S., RD, Los Angeles-based nutrition consultant and best-selling author ofThe MIND Diet. “Maybe it’s because I grew up mostly eating traditional Korean food, but I didn’t grow up with a lot of soda, and I’ve never missed it.” But Moon acknowledges that if Plezi Fizz can be a contender to replace soda for some, then she’s in favor.Charleston-based registered dietitianLauren Manaker, M.S., RDN, LD, CLEC, agrees, adding that regular soda consumption can contribute to an excessive amount of added sugar to our diets, and it could be helpful for kids to consume less. “This drink provides a lower amount of calories and added sugar, which makes it a viable alternative to drinking regular soda,” shares Manaker. It’s also made with real fruit juice. Manaker points out that while there’s no added sugar, “this drink does contain natural fruit sugar, so it should still be consumed in moderation, with water being the primary source of hydration.”The drink does contain sugar substitutes in the form ofsteviaandmonk fruit, which can cause stomach discomfort and have a bitter taste to some. While most stevia and monk fruit used in the U.S. is generally classified as safe for consumption, more research is needed to clarify their safety for the long term.The Bottom LineRegistered dietitians agree that PLEZi Fizz may be helpful to have a no-added-sugar alternative to soda. Personally, I’m interested in trying it and seeing what my daughter thinks, too. But as a mom and registered dietitian, I’ll continue to recommend keeping sweetened beverage intake to a minimum. Kids are curious, so this could be a great opportunity to help them understand why high-added-sugar drinks like soda are better for special occasions than regular consumption. And alternatives like PLEZi Fizz, seltzer water and 100% fruit juice can be helpful tools in decreasing added sugar consumption.

If you have a child, then you may know that the allure of soda and sugar-sweetened beverages can be strong. I grew up on soda so I get the appeal, but as a parent and registered dietitian, I have concerns about how readily available these beverages are. And I’m not the only one, either. Consuminglarge amounts of added sugarcan have negative health effects for anyone (like insulin resistance and dental decay), but especially to a growing kid. It’s why former First Lady, Michelle Obama started PLEZi, a nutrition-focused food and beverage company that’s made it their mission to provide an alternative to sodas and sugar-sweetened beverages. They’re newest launch, PLEZi Fizz, is made with no added sugar and geared towards kids ages 12 and up— but is it a good option? We asked registered dietitians to weigh in, and here’s what they had to say.

Before we dig into opinions, it’s good to lay out some facts. First, our kids are consuming more added sugar than they ever have in the past. Research has shown that, on average, children and young adults ages 2 to 19 consumed 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day.That’s well above the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation that only 10% of total calories (about 10 teaspoons on a 2,000 calorie eating pattern) should come from added sugar.Sugar isn’t evil or “bad,” but like anything, if it’s regularly over-consumed, it can lead tohealth problems. This includes increased risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, oral health issues and other inflammatory diseases.

After leaving office, she launched PLEZi, a company she co-founded focused on providing nutritious food and beverage options for kids. The first product launched last year, and was a line of no-added-sugar fruit drinks geared towards school-aged children 6 to 12 years old. And this spring, they’ll be adding to their lineup with a carbonated drink designed to appeal to older kids as an alternative to soda. A press releaseshares that the drink has “70% less sugar (8 grams per 8.4 ounces) than average leading soft drinks (28 grams per 8.4 ounces), no added sugar, plus 2 grams of fiber and nutrients such as potassium and vitamin C.” It will be available in three flavors: Cherry Limeade, Lemon Lime Squeeze and Strawberry Lemonade.

What Do Registered Dietitians Think?

“In a perfect world, we’d all grow up in food environments where the healthy choice was the easy choice. We wouldn’t need to combat sugar-sweetened drinks being the number one source of added sugars,” saysMaggie Moon, M.S., RD, Los Angeles-based nutrition consultant and best-selling author ofThe MIND Diet. “Maybe it’s because I grew up mostly eating traditional Korean food, but I didn’t grow up with a lot of soda, and I’ve never missed it.” But Moon acknowledges that if Plezi Fizz can be a contender to replace soda for some, then she’s in favor.

Charleston-based registered dietitianLauren Manaker, M.S., RDN, LD, CLEC, agrees, adding that regular soda consumption can contribute to an excessive amount of added sugar to our diets, and it could be helpful for kids to consume less. “This drink provides a lower amount of calories and added sugar, which makes it a viable alternative to drinking regular soda,” shares Manaker. It’s also made with real fruit juice. Manaker points out that while there’s no added sugar, “this drink does contain natural fruit sugar, so it should still be consumed in moderation, with water being the primary source of hydration.”

The drink does contain sugar substitutes in the form ofsteviaandmonk fruit, which can cause stomach discomfort and have a bitter taste to some. While most stevia and monk fruit used in the U.S. is generally classified as safe for consumption, more research is needed to clarify their safety for the long term.

The Bottom Line

Registered dietitians agree that PLEZi Fizz may be helpful to have a no-added-sugar alternative to soda. Personally, I’m interested in trying it and seeing what my daughter thinks, too. But as a mom and registered dietitian, I’ll continue to recommend keeping sweetened beverage intake to a minimum. Kids are curious, so this could be a great opportunity to help them understand why high-added-sugar drinks like soda are better for special occasions than regular consumption. And alternatives like PLEZi Fizz, seltzer water and 100% fruit juice can be helpful tools in decreasing added sugar consumption.

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!OtherSubmit

Tell us why!

SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.What We Eat In America, NHANES 2017-2018. (2018). InFood Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 2017-2018.https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400530/pdf/FPED/tables_1-4_FPED_1718.pdf2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Available at:https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdfNutrition, P. (2024, March 12). PLEZi NUTRITION LAUNCHES PLEZi FiZZ TO TAKE ON SODAS AND SUGARY DRINKS.PR Newswire.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plezi-nutrition-launches-plezi-fizz-to-take-on-sodas-and-sugary-drinks-302085812.html

Sources

EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.What We Eat In America, NHANES 2017-2018. (2018). InFood Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 2017-2018.https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400530/pdf/FPED/tables_1-4_FPED_1718.pdf2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Available at:https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdfNutrition, P. (2024, March 12). PLEZi NUTRITION LAUNCHES PLEZi FiZZ TO TAKE ON SODAS AND SUGARY DRINKS.PR Newswire.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plezi-nutrition-launches-plezi-fizz-to-take-on-sodas-and-sugary-drinks-302085812.html

EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

What We Eat In America, NHANES 2017-2018. (2018). InFood Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 2017-2018.https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400530/pdf/FPED/tables_1-4_FPED_1718.pdf2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Available at:https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdfNutrition, P. (2024, March 12). PLEZi NUTRITION LAUNCHES PLEZi FiZZ TO TAKE ON SODAS AND SUGARY DRINKS.PR Newswire.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plezi-nutrition-launches-plezi-fizz-to-take-on-sodas-and-sugary-drinks-302085812.html

What We Eat In America, NHANES 2017-2018. (2018). InFood Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 2017-2018.https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400530/pdf/FPED/tables_1-4_FPED_1718.pdf

2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Available at:https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf

Nutrition, P. (2024, March 12). PLEZi NUTRITION LAUNCHES PLEZi FiZZ TO TAKE ON SODAS AND SUGARY DRINKS.PR Newswire.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plezi-nutrition-launches-plezi-fizz-to-take-on-sodas-and-sugary-drinks-302085812.html