Reagan Michiels, Joseane Moreira do Nascimento, and Chloe Jang, are the co-founders of The Easy Snack Co., which provides a comprehensive, nutrient-rich option for adults seeking healthy convenient snacks. With over 70% of Canadian adults not being able to meet the recommended daily intake of five servings of fruits and vegetables, Easy Snack fills the gap with a blend of fruits, vegetables, protein, fibre, and collagen in a ready-to-consume, portable, and resealable pouch.
What does your company do?
Over 70% of Canadian adults do not meet the recommended daily intake of five servings of fruits and vegetables. Our survey revealed that while adults strive for healthier eating, limited food preparation time is a significant barrier, highlighting a market gap for convenient solutions. Easy Snack fills this gap with a blend of fruits, vegetables, protein, fibre, and collagen in a ready-to-consume, portable, and resealable pouch, offering the first comprehensive, nutrient-rich option for adults seeking healthy convenient snacks. Available in three delicious flavours, our product has received positive feedback for its taste and comprehensive nutrient profile.
What drew you to entrepreneurship?
We never set out to become entrepreneurs, and business doesn’t exactly run in our families. However, when Joseane shared her grandmother’s struggle with nutrition after a stroke, it really hit home. As scientists, we’re all about solving real-life problems, and this one felt personal. That conversation quickly turned into a mission to make healthy eating easy and accessible for everyone. So, here we are with The Easy Snack Co.—bringing our problem-solving skills beyond the lab, driven by the belief that food can be both convenient and genuinely good for you.
What problem are you solving, and what is your unique approach?
The Easy Snack Co. aims to address a critical issue: approximately 70% of Canadian adults do not meet their recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables. As scientists who’ve experienced the demands of long workdays, we understand the challenge of maintaining proper nutrition. To address this, we developed a convenient solution—a puree pouch that combines fruits, vegetables, protein, fibre, and vegan collagen. What sets us apart is our focus on functional nutrition designed to fit seamlessly into busy lifestyles. Our product is nutritionally complete, accommodates a variety of dietary needs, and most importantly, tastes great.
How did you come across this problem and why did it appeal to you?
After countless late nights in the lab, we found ourselves constantly reaching for whatever snacks were available—rarely the healthiest choices. Then, one day, Joseane shared a story about her grandmother, who had always loved cooking healthy meals and tending to her garden, but after a stroke, she couldn’t manage to prepare food safely anymore. It hit us—if someone who deeply values healthy eating struggles, what about the rest of us? We surveyed over 100 people and kept hearing the same thing: "I want to eat healthier, but I just don’t have the time." That’s when we realized this is a serious problem impacting many people’s lives, and we could be the solution.
What are you hoping to accomplish for your start-up at the Western Accelerator?
We’re definitely more comfortable in the lab than with a business plan! While we know how to make healthy, tasty snacks, we’re here to figure out how to turn our idea into a successful business. We need help translating our scientific background into something that connects with real people. We’re looking to learn how to share our story better, reach more people who could benefit from our products, and grow The Easy Snack Co. into a sustainable business.
What is the biggest lesson you've learned so far during your time at the Wester Accelerator?
The biggest lesson we've learned at the Western Accelerator is the power of community. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals has had a direct and powerful impact on our progress. The energy and inspiration in this space have pushed us to achieve more in the last two months than we did in the entire previous year. The support and collaboration here have been invaluable, and without a doubt, the community has been the most rewarding part of this experience.