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

Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation Support was founded to decrease healthcare inequities and disparities in chronic disease management and prevention for Georgia families. Additionally, we strive to increase positive birth outcomes and – through education, outreach, and support – build healthier communities. To that end, our vision is to:

• Dramatically reduce infant and maternal mortality rates in Georgia, particularly among Black women, who experience disproportionately higher rates of these tragedies. 

• Ensure every child in Georgia has equitable access to high-quality nutrition education, support, and affordable, nourishing food, regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or geographic location.

• Create an environment where all new and expectant parents, regardless of their background, feel empowered to initiate and sustain breastfeeding or chestfeeding exclusively for at least six months and as long as mutually desired, with appropriate complementary feeding thereafter.

• Eradicate childhood obesity in the communities we serve through comprehensive early nutrition intervention programs that support the entire family unit.

• Empower families to make the best possible nutrition and lifestyle-related decisions for their children and themselves.

• Advocate for policies at the local, state, and federal levels that improve access to healthcare, expand nutrition assistance programs, support paid family leave, and address the root causes of health inequities in Georgia.