Women In Low Carb Series: Rosette Kalayjian

I’m usually behind the scenes of this blog series, helping share stories from other women in the low carb community. But today, I’m sharing my own. It may not carry the weight of a clinician or expert, but it’s honest and from a mother’s point of view and I hope that counts for something.

I’m a first-generation American, and that shaped a lot of what and how we ate growing up. Our Armenian culture is deeply rooted in food and community. We ate what many would call a Mediterranean diet: lots of fresh vegetables, grains, and fermented dairy. Dishes like dolma and sarma; stuffed peppers and grape leaves filled with rice, bulgur, or meat, were staples. We drank yogurt-based drinks like kefir and enjoyed cheese and bread with most meals. It was flavorful, nourishing, and cultural but I remember being embarrassed bringing homemade food to school, wishing instead for fish sticks or the square slice of pizza in the cafeteria.

We rarely ate out, but when we did, it felt like a treat—Pizza Hut’s salad bar, ribs from Tony Roma’s, or rotisserie chicken from the local Chinese restaurant. These are some of my earliest food memories. I wasn’t overweight as a child. My struggle with weight didn’t begin until after marriage—when my parents were no longer the ones cooking for me, and takeout became the norm. I had little experience with cooking at home and was busy focusing on school, first college, then law school. I didn’t notice how processed and fried foods were becoming the bulk of my meals until my metabolism started slowing and the weight crept in.

In the spring of 2011, Tro and I decided to get serious about our health. We started with exercise; walks and jogs around the neighborhood. I lost about four pounds before finding out we were expecting our first child. You’d think that would kick our health motivation into high gear, but it didn’t. Around that same time, we moved out of state for Tro’s residency. I was adjusting to a new place, new life, and pregnancy - and I leaned into my cravings hard. I lived off sour gummies and cheerios for dinner. Looking back, I wish I had prioritized protein and known then what I know now. I didn’t do myself or my baby any favors, and that pattern repeated itself during all three of my pregnancies. I was more mindful with our third, and that experience became the catalyst for our family’s low-carb, high-protein, no-sugar journey.

Transitioning to a new way of eating wasn't easy especially for our oldest who was 4 at the time. He had been exposed to goldfish, Cheerios, and sweets early on. Even though we fed him lots of protein, veggies and dairy, the power of carbs and sugar had already taken hold. It was hard for his taste buds to let go. But over time, we got there. A low carb lifestyle has become sustainable for our family. That said, it took me a while to get fully on board. As a tired mom with three kids under four, I was in survival mode. I skipped meals, didn’t exercise, and definitely didn’t prioritize myself.

Eventually, I joined a gym because they offered childcare, but my youngest would cry or need me halfway through workouts. It didn’t feel worth it. That’s when I turned to intermittent fasting, not just skipping meals but being intentional. I focused on breaking my fast with protein and giving my body what it actually needed. That shift helped me lose weight and gave me the energy to do more. It became easier to prioritize protein and make better food choices for the whole family. It wasn’t until Black Friday of 2023 that I finally committed to myself again. I started weight training. I wanted to build strength, stamina, and tone my body not just for looks but for health. No more excuses.

I didn’t start this journey by reading all the books or following a guru, even though I was married to one. Tro did the research. I followed as best I could and tweaked things to make them work for me. I kept it simple and actionable. Intermittent fasting, low carb, and ROSETTE’S recipes was my winning combo. People used to criticize us when they heard the method with which Tro was losing weight. They’d question the method but never praised the results. That part was disheartening, but at the end of the day, we weren’t doing this for them but for us.

In 2019, more than two years after our youngest was born, we were all in. The biggest challenge left was our sweet tooth. I’ve always loved bread and sweets. Growing up with pita bread at every meal and decadent Middle Eastern pastries made it hard to go cold turkey. School parties, birthdays, holidays, it's all sugar everywhere. I knew I had to find a way to make this work for us, especially for the kids. That’s when I started experimenting in the kitchen, creating low-carb, sugar-free recipes. I remember using xylitol for the first time and testing so many versions of cakes. Some were total flops, but I kept going. It was frustrating, fun, and empowering.

I’m proud of the recipes I’ve created and even prouder of myself. It’s okay to say that. We need to be our own cheerleaders. The voice in our heads is louder than any praise from someone else. I founded ROSETTE’S, originally called Rosette’s Baked Goods, because there was a real need for delicious, better-for-you sweet treats. I wanted to recreate childhood favorites without the sugar crash. The kids are my biggest fans. They don’t love everything, but they have their favorites and they’re always asking for more.

I wish I could share more of our bakes at school events or parties, but many of the nostalgic recipes like chocolate chip cookies and birthday cakes are made with almond flour, which is an allergen. Still, I believe deeply in introducing nutrient-dense, less-sweet foods to kids early on. It shapes their palates and helps support both mental and physical development.

Creating new recipes keeps me inspired and grounded. It helps me, my family, and hopefully our community stay motivated on their own journeys. Only recently have I come to fully appreciate Tro’s vision, especially the part about community. I used to think of community as just a small group of people who shared a common interest. I wasn’t entirely wrong, but I see now that a strong, supportive community can help you achieve real, lasting change. It’s one of the factors that makes a health journey sustainable. I’m part of the Toward Health community through their app, creating my own with ROSETTE’S and recently I joined the Low Carb Cruise community. Traveling with 350 like-minded individuals who were all in pursuit of better health reminded me how powerful connection is.

This journey is still unfolding. I didn’t start perfectly. I don’t live perfectly now. But I’ve learned to show up for myself, for my family, and for the community we’re building together.

About the Author

Rosette Kalayjian is a mother of three, co-founder of ROSETTE’S, a line of low-carb, sugar-free, and gluten-free baking mixes and a passionate advocate for helping families find joy and balance through better food choices. In addition to running her business, Rosette also serves as counsel to Toward Health, where she helps support the mission of improving metabolic health and wellness through community and education. Her journey into low carb living started as a personal mission to improve her family’s health and has since evolved into a business that empowers others to do the same. Through ROSETTE’S, Rosette shares delicious, better-for-you alternatives that don’t compromise on taste. You can follow her journey and get inspired at ROSETTESMIX.COM.