From Struggle to Service: How SmileMore is Nourishing Fort Wayne, One Meal at a Time
By La’Crystele Brown
FWIS Contributing Writer
Behind many great businesses is a powerful story and for Terel Lynn, owner and founder of Smile More Meal Prep and Catering, that story starts with struggle, grit, and an unshakable desire to bring people together through food.
Terel was born in Detroit but raised in Fort Wayne from the age of three. He grew up on the city’s south side in a big family, with six siblings in total, and a lot of love but very little money. “We were dirt poor,” he shared. “We moved a lot, and got evicted a lot. There were nights we ate sugar and cinnamon on bread or ketchup sandwiches. But my mom did the best she could with what she had.”
From a young age, Terel had to learn how to hustle. He and his brothers started a neighborhood lawn care business as kids, mowing, raking, and shoveling for neighbors. Later, he delivered newspapers and started buying his own clothes and basic needs before he was even a teenager. “I’ve been buying my own underwear since I was about nine,” he said with a laugh. “That’s just how it was.”
Despite the hardship, there were bright moments, especially around his grandmother’s dinner table. It didn’t matter who was mad at who, or what kind of drama had happened the day before. “When we sat down to eat her food, we all smiled,” Terel said. “That’s where Smile More came from. It’s more than a name, it’s a memory.”
Terel graduated from South Side High School in 2007 and later earned both his undergraduate degree in Communications and a master’s in Organizational Leadership from Purdue Fort Wayne, Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne at the time. But like many people who carry childhood trauma, adulthood came with its own challenges. “I struggled with addiction and self-worth,” he admitted.
But everything changed when Terel made a commitment to his health. After reaching a high weight that made him feel tired and defeated, he began meal prepping and exercising regularly with his ex wife. Over time, he lost 150 pounds and friends and family started asking if he could prepare their meals too. That small request became the seed for a full-fledged business.
Smile More began as a meal prep company focused on healthier, home cooked food. “We were doubling down on real food,” Terel said. “Instead of fried wings, we’d double bake them. We used real ingredients, balanced portions, and offered things like sweet potato fries instead of french fries.” As demand grew, so did the business.
But just six months in, COVID-19 hit. Like many small businesses, Smile More faced uncertainty. “We really thought it was over,” he said. “We took a little break, but once they gave food businesses the green light to operate again, we got back to it and from there, we took off.” Within a year and a half, Smile More had brought in over a million dollars in sales.
That momentum led to even more opportunities. Smile More was one of several companies asked to compete for a major catering contract with Ruoff Mortgage and they won. That half million dollar deal helped put the company on the map. Since then, they’ve catered for all kinds of events, from weddings and birthday parties to corporate gatherings and political functions. They've served meals for government officials, entrepreneurs, and professional athletes.
Today, Smile More is the official meal provider for the Fort Wayne Komets and the Fort Wayne Football Club. They are also working to secure catering slots for the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Their reach has expanded, but Terel’s mission remains personal and deeply rooted in community.
“Our kitchen is located in 46803, which is one of the biggest food deserts in the state,” he said. “So our goal is to be more than a business we want to be a resource.”
That goal has taken shape in several ways. Every Tuesday at noon, a new menu is posted to their website, and customers can place orders through Friday. Meals are prepped on Saturday, cooked Sunday, and delivered directly to customers' doors making it simple for people to access fresh, healthy food.
Smile More also accommodates all kinds of dietary needs including vegan, vegetarian, keto, and gluten free meals can all be requested in a special instructions box during ordering. “We make it work,” Terel said. “We’ve had people ordering every single week for their whole family with all different requests. We just want to make eating well easier.”
Beyond the business, Terel is committed to giving back. Smile More has hosted community events where they give out free meals, school supplies, and other essentials. “We want to do this quarterly,” he said. “We’ve got closets full of donated backpacks, markers, notebooks, you name it. We just want to be there for our people.”
For Terel, Smile More is more than a brand it’s his way of showing love. “The answer to a lot of life’s problems is love,” he said. “And food brings people together. Food leads to conversation. Conversation leads to healing. Healing leads to forgiveness, and forgiveness brings us back to love.”
Looking to the future, Terel isn’t setting limits. “Honestly, I don’t know exactly where we’ll end up,” he admitted. “But I do know I want Smile More to be known for giving more than we take. I want to create jobs, support the community, and help people feel like they matter.”
He may not always feel comfortable being in the spotlight, but his heart is in the right place and Fort Wayne is better for it.
“If you can sit down with someone and share a meal,” he said, “there’s a good chance you’ll leave with a smile.”
To learn more about Smile More or to place a meal order, visit: www.smilemoremealprep.com
Want to help out or attend one of their upcoming community events? Stay tuned to their website or reach out directly.