Food and Wellness

Nutrition & Wellness at Cullman Child Development Center

At Cullman, we believe healthy habits start early. Our nutrition and wellness program goes beyond serving meals—it creates hands-on learning opportunities, fosters mindfulness, and builds a positive relationship with food. From our on-site greenhouse to our partnerships with local farms, every aspect of our program is designed to nurture the whole child—body, mind, and community.

Highlights of Cullman’s Nutrition & Wellness Program

  • On-site Greenhouse – Children plant, tend, and harvest produce, gaining hands-on experience with the food cycle and farm-to-table practices.
  • Partnership with Tulip and the Rose – Fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients that reflect sustainable farming practices.
  • Seasonal Menus – Meals designed for variety, nutritional balance, and appeal to young palates, using fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins.
  • Family-Style Dining – Meals served in small bowls for self-serving, encouraging independence, community, and good table manners.
  • Obesity Prevention Program – A holistic approach that builds lifelong healthy habits through education, environment, and access to fresh foods.

Infant Feedings

Solid foods will only be introduced after a consultation with the child’s family.

  • Infants will be held for bottle-feeding until able to hold his or her own bottle. Bottles will never be propped.
  • Infants are fed “on cue” to the extent possible (at least every 4 hours and usually not more than hourly) and by a consistent caregiver/teacher.
  • Breastfeeding is supported by providing a place for nursing mothers to feed their babies.
  • Expressed breast milk may be brought from home if frozen or kept cold during transit. All breast milk and formula shall be returned to the child’s home or discarded at the end of each day. Previously frozen, thawed breast milk must be used within 24 hours.
  • Bottles must be clearly labeled with the child’s name and the date the milk was expressed.
  • Labels on all milk/formula containers should be resistant to loss of the name and date/time when washing and handling.

Children 24 Months and Older

No child shall go more than 4 hours without a meal or snack being provided.

Children are encouraged to self-feed to the extent that they have the skills. Children are encouraged, but not forced to eat a variety of foods.