Michelle Obama launches a new juice drink for kids. Here's what nutritionists say about it.

Michelle Obama has been advocating for children’s health for years, including with her “Let’s Move” campaign while in the White House. Now the former first lady is looking to change the food and beverage industry, announcing that she’s the co-founder and strategic partner of PLEZi Nutrition, which just launched a new juice drink for kids.
The drinks are meant to be an alternative to the sugary beverages kids often consume, which are the No. 1 source of added sugar in American children’s diets. Close to two-thirds of children have at least one sugary drink per day.
What is PLEZi?
The drinks are for kids ages 6 and up and claim to have no added sugar, 75% less sugar than leading 100% fruit juices, and less sweetness overall. Each 8-ounce serving has 35 calories and contains about ¼ cup of juice, with water being the main ingredient.
PLEZi’s website states that water and milk, as well as fruits and vegetables, are “still the best options for your kids,” but the company acknowledges that it’s unrealistic to expect children to stick only to those two types of beverages.
Sarah Pflugradt, dietitian and founder of Fueling Active Kids, tells Yahoo Life that it’s “responsible on their part to recognize that water and milk should be the primary drinks offered.”
How do these drinks measure nutritionally?
Experts agree these drinks can fit into a healthy lifestyle — with some minor caveats.
Unlike 100% fruit juice, PLEZi offers 2 grams of soluble vegetable fiber, which can help with blood sugar, heart health, and digestion. In the U.S., about 95% of adults and children are not meeting their fiber needs (11 to 25 grams of fiber daily for ages 6 to 17 years). The amount of fiber in PLEZi drinks doesn’t replace eating whole fruit, but dietitian Amanda Sauceda tells Yahoo Life that it’s nice for the juice to have some fiber.
PLEZi contains 100% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, though dietitian Lauren Manaker tells Yahoo Life this might not be necessary, as most people in the U.S. don’t fall short of this nutrient. Manaker also points out that, while the drinks have only 2% of the recommended daily value of magnesium oxide, the mineral isn’t well-absorbed and “may cause GI distress.”