Growing up in Virginia, Susan Lessar enjoyed spending time with her grandparents who owned a grocery store. She often worked alongside with her grandfather, learning the business.
While in high school, her grandfather had a heart attack. Fortunately, he survived. What made a lasting impression on Susan was the dietitian who convinced her grandfather to change his diet. Up until that time, diet was not a priority in her family.
“My entire family had a history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. After listening to the dietitian, I began researching nutrition on my own. Then I started educating my family on diet choices to manage their chronic diseases. I’m sure they appreciated the expert in the family,” she laughs at the memory.
Susan did go on to become an expert in nutrition, and is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician. She is the director of Nutrition Therapy for Valley Health and is responsible for patients’ dietary needs, which vary widely in the regional health center. Because nearly half of the patients who present at her hospital are at risk for malnutrition, Susan’s always looking for products people will accept.
Among the products ranking at the top of her list is Thrive Ice Cream.
“Thrive Ice Cream is one of the more superior products we have access to,” she says. “Our patients, especially the elderly ones, like it as it’s a nice alternative to liquid supplements. Thrive is a good option for dysphagia as it melts to a nectar consistency and for those at high risk of malnutrition.”
Additionally, patients with IBS, Crohn’s and colitis, dementia, cancer, and a host of other conditions benefit from Thrive’s unique nutritional blend.
Susan is such an advocate of our nutritious ice cream that she worked with Valley Health’s foodservice company, US Foods, for a year to get them to stock Thrive Ice Cream.
While serving on the National Clinical Committee that reviews products for Premier, Inc., one of the nation’s largest healthcare group purchasing organizations, Susan voted “yes” to Thrive Ice Cream. In May 2016, Premier approved Thrive for use by its thousands of member hospitals and clinics across the country. It was a win for dietitians and the patients they are committed to helping.
One of the questions Susan and other dietitians get from patients is where can they buy Thrive Ice Cream in single serve cups after they are discharged from the hospital. For a long time, this option was not available. Now, however, anyone in the continental United States can order Thrice Ice Cream in cups and No Sugar Added Thrive Ice Cream in pints online.
Susan was pleased to get the news. “It’s definitely beneficial to have Thrive in cups available online for those who are nutritionally compromise or would like a healthy option. Who doesn’t love ice cream?”
Thrive Ice Cream was specifically developed for the healthcare, senior living, and sports nutrition industries to deliver high quality nutrition. A 6-ounce, single-serve cup of Thrive delivers 9 grams of protein, 24 vitamins and minerals, 6 grams of natural fiber, and 4 active probiotics. Thrive is made from Real Dairy® certified milk and cream plus natural flavors and colors. There is no HFCS, no palm oil and no fillers. Thrive is rBST free, certified kosher, gluten free and appropriate for gluten-free diets.
Order Thrive Ice Cream and Thrive Gelato online and learn more about our products here.