Listen to this articlePLEZi Nutrition, a company co-founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama, helps Hackensack Meridian Health patients and team members eliminate sugar from their diets.
Hackensack University Medical Center is the first health system in the country to partner with PLEZi Nutrition, HMH announced Aug. 8. The nonprofit company’s first product, PLEZi, is a fruit beverage with 75% less sugar than the average leading fruit juice. It contains no added sugar and 2 grams of fiber and nutrients like vitamin C.
HUMC introduced the children’s drink in February. Since then, patients and staff have eliminated 1.8 million calories and 1,000 pounds of sugar from their diets, according to Hackensack Meridian.
The system said it expects to expand PLEZi availability to all 18 hospitals by the end of 2024.
“We are excited to be the first health system in the country to offer PLEZi to our patients and team members,” said Robert Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “PLEZi is a delicious and healthy beverage that aligns with our commitment to offering our patients healthy alternatives that reduce sugar and calories and improve health.”
PLEZi Nutrition was founded in May 2023. The company’s goal is to create higher standards for the production and marketing of children’s foods and beverages in the United States.
“While I am proud of all we have accomplished during these years in the White House, I have also learned that to truly push the food and beverage industry to be better for our children, you have to work from within,” Obama, co-founder and strategic partner of PLEZi Nutrition, said earlier this year. “I am excited to build on these efforts with PLEZi Nutrition as we work to drive change across the food and beverage industry.”
Shared goals
Amid a nationwide nutrition-related health crisis, PLEZi’s mission has found several high-profile supporters. This summer, Stephen and Ayesha Curry joined in. Meanwhile, Kristen Bell became an investor and brand partner in May.
According to current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people ages 2 and older should limit added sugars to less than 10% of their total daily calorie intake.
Added sugar is just that – sweeteners added to foods during processing. The CDC identifies sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, and sweet snacks as the main sources of added sugar in the U.S. diet.
Although PLEZi does not contain added sugars – such as high fructose corn syrup – it is still tasty. The overall lower sugar content also helps reduce the taste buds’ cravings for sweets. With the goal of replacing sugary drinks and snacks, PLEZi also enhances its benefits with additional nutrients.
PLEZi comes in four flavors: Tropical Punch, Blueberry Blast, Apple Splash and Orange Smash. It is available on Amazon and at Target, Walmart, Sprouts, select Kroger stores and other retailers nationwide.
Continuous progress
At Hackensack Meridian, the launch continues the health system’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of the community it serves. The system shared several highlights of that effort:
- HMH is the largest health system in the country to join the Cool Food Pledge, an initiative founded by the World Resources Institute that helps organizations reduce their climate impact by promoting more plant-based foods.
- Hackensack Meridian Health has reduced meat consumption in its hospitals by more than 21%.
- The “Less Meat, Better Meat” initiative has helped reduce total food-related emissions by more than 40%.
- Since the launch of an antibiotic-free food initiative in 2018, more than 57% of meat products purchased in the healthcare system are free of antibiotics.
- The system promotes responsible consumption and healthier lifestyles by offering locally sourced food, sustainably sourced seafood and plant-based menus.
In case you missed me
Hackensack Meridian Health and Monmouth University recently announced a collaboration that includes an academic component, expanded access to health care and naming rights for a $27 million expansion of the OceanFirst Bank Center. Read more here.
