Our History

Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation Support, Inc. was founded in June of 2012 by Alicia C. Simpson MS, RD, IBCLC, LD. Pea Pod was founded on the principle that preventative care through nutrition education and positive lifestyle modifications are the hallmarks to building healthier communities and reducing the risk and prevalence of lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Pea Pod believes in a holistic family approach that focuses on chronic disease prevention for every member of the family from infants who are nursing or enjoying their first solid foods to children, teens, and adults who are at high risk of developing a chronic disease or who are currently living with one or more chronic diseases.

In working with families from varying socioeconomic backgrounds Alicia also observed a wide disparity in the type of healthcare services provided to low-income families versus the average well-insured middle-class family. To help eliminate this disparity Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation Support offers free medical nutrition therapy, nutrition counseling, and family-centered breast/chest-feeding counseling to all Georgia families regardless of income. Pea Pod’s income eligibility criteria is one household member higher than that of typical government assistance programs allowing us to reach the “working poor” and make a long-term difference in the lives of more Georgia families.

Our Vision for Georgia

Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation Support envisions a future where health equity is the standard, and every family has the foundation to thrive without the burden of preventable disease. To achieve this, we are committed to:

• Ending the Cycle of Medical Poverty: We strive to eliminate the financial instability caused by lifestyle-related chronic diseases. By providing families with the tools for prevention and management, we help them avoid the devastating healthcare costs that trap households in a cycle of poverty.

• Eliminating Birth Inequities: We work toward a Georgia where maternal and infant mortality are memories of the past, specifically closing the gap for Black women, who are currently 2.3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women in our state.

• Universal Nutritional Equity: We envision a state where every child has access to high-quality nutrition education and affordable, nourishing food, regardless of their zip code, race, or socioeconomic status.

• Nurturing Early Foundations: We aim to create a society where all parents feel fully empowered and supported to meet their breastfeeding or chestfeeding goals, ensuring the best possible start for every infant.

• Eradicating Childhood Health Disparities: Through early intervention and whole-family support, we work to end the epidemic of childhood obesity and the lifelong health challenges that follow.

• Systemic Advocacy: We envision a Georgia supported by policies that address the root causes of inequity—advocating for paid family leave, expanded nutrition assistance, and universal healthcare access.