Conversations with Karlee Rotoly

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karlee Rotoly.

Hi Karlee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I knew as early as high school that I wanted to pursue a career in food, but my parents encouraged me to get a college degree first. Like any good Jersey resident, I found myself at Rutgers University, where I earned my B.S. in Dietetics. After graduating, instead of continuing down the traditional path of a dietetic internship, I listened to my gut and enrolled in culinary school at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York. It was the perfect fit for me. This program combined nutrition with a holistic, health-supportive approach to cooking, which helped me understand how to apply my more clinical nutrition education in a hands-on, meaningful way.

After a few years working in professional kitchens, my path eventually led me to Los Angeles, where I landed what felt like a dream job—as the lead recipe developer and nutritionist for BuzzFeed’s Goodful and Tasty brands. I spent five years there developing hundreds of recipes, styling shoots, and making cooking approachable for a massive online audience. It was during that time that I started feeling pulled toward something I’d always been interested in: maternal nutrition. I enrolled in the inaugural cohort of a holistic school focused on maternal health and earned certifications in prenatal, postpartum, and infant nutrition.

My interest in maternal nutrition started long before that. I still have sketches in my 2015 culinary school notebook about launching a postpartum meal service. Life took its share of twists and detours, but in 2021, I finally brought that vision to life with the launch of Postpartum Provisions—a boutique meal delivery service designed to nourish new moms during one of the most transformative times of their lives.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Any entrepreneur will tell you it’s never a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges has been positioning myself as a trusted postpartum resource, even though I’m not a mom (yet) myself. There’s also the constant balancing act of working full-time while growing a business, your energy and attention are always being pulled in different directions. And while I’m still working my way into the LA mom-network, I have managed to find amazing clients through word of mouth and social media. It’s taken time, but each connection has helped me grow and find my footing in this space.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m first and foremost a chef and recipe developer with a passion for sharing food that’s genuinely delicious, approachable, and joyful—food that leans healthy without ever feeling restrictive. I like to say I specialize in recipes that feel as good as they taste.

What I’m most proud of is following my gut, literally and figuratively, by turning my culinary school daydreams into reality and launching Postpartum Provisions, a boutique meal service for new moms. There’s something deeply meaningful about cooking for people in one of life’s most vulnerable, transformative seasons.It’s about more than just making something that tastes good, it’s about providing nourishment, care, and support. In a culture that often overlooks postpartum recovery, especially as so many of us live far from our families, I’m grateful to be able to offer even a small piece of that missing support system.

What sets me apart from other chefs is my ability to bridge the gap between professional culinary expertise and real-life home cooking. With a background in both nutrition and food media, I know how to make food both beautiful and practical. I don’t just develop recipes—I offer them like a friend would; with warmth, clarity, and the kind of encouragement that makes cooking feel exciting, not overwhelming.

I share my work through my Substack newsletter Almost Healthy, where I post recipes and reflections for people who love food but value cooking for real life. I’ve recently launched a subsection devoted to postpartum nutrition and recovery-friendly recipes—so if that speaks to you, I’d love for you to check it out!

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I grew up in New Jersey, just 25 minutes outside of Manhattan, with a dad I like to think of as one of the original foodies. He had a deep love for the city and always seemed to know the newest spot to try. I remember him signing up for email lists for underground supper clubs and pop-ups happening around New York, something that felt so ahead of its time I couldn’t even wrap my head around where he was finding this stuff.

He worked long hours and often got home late, but every now and then, he’d walk through the door and decide he wanted to head into the city for a bowl of ramen, sushi, or noodles from Xi’an Famous Foods. Those were the best nights. It was usually just the two of us, cruising through the Holland Tunnel at 9 or 10 p.m. with no traffic in sight. We’d cruise around the Village a bit, then settle into one of his go to spots, or somewhere new he’d just heard about, and sit side by side with our late night dinner, just hanging out.

Those nights taught me the joy of spontaneity, the magic of a comforting late-night meal, and the simple but profound way that sharing something delicious can mean so much.

Pricing:

• Postpartum Provisions Meal Kits start at $300
• Almost Healthy Premium Subscription $5/month

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karleetaylor.com
• Instagram: @karleetaylorfood
• Other: https://almosthealthy.substack.com/

Image Credits
Kort Havens