Welcome to the Balsz Child Nutrition Program
At Balsz School District, we prioritize providing nutritious, well-balanced meals to all our students — because feeding the body is essential before we can nourish the mind. All Balsz students receive free breakfast and lunch every school day. Our food service is proudly operated by Sodexo.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Free School Meals for All Students
Balsz School District participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal program that allows all enrolled students to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost every school day.
Because our district participates in CEP:
- All enrolled students receive one healthy breakfast and one healthy lunch each school day at no charge.
- Families do not need to complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application to receive free school meals.
- Students are encouraged to enjoy nutritious meals that support learning, health, and academic success.
Research has shown that starting the day with a nutritious breakfast helps students stay alert and perform better in school. Breakfast is served to all elementary school students at the start of each school day in their classroom.
If you have any questions, please contact the Child Nutrition Services Department.
Arizona Healthy Schools Act — A.R.S. 15-242.01
Effective at the start of the 2026–2027 school year, the Arizona Healthy Schools Act (A.R.S. 15-242.01) prohibits public schools participating in federally funded meal programs from serving, selling, or allowing a third party to sell ultra-processed foods on campus during the regular school day.
School day defined: Midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official instructional day.
Please note: This law does not apply to food a student's parent or guardian provides directly to their own child during the school day.
Balsz School District has adopted all required governing board policies and Sodexo has completed all required compliance measures for our food service operations.
Prohibited & Restricted Ingredients
Per HB2164 and A.R.S. 15-242.01, all foods provided by the Child Nutrition Department are free from the following ingredients:
State-Prohibited Additives (A.R.S. 15-242.01)
- Potassium bromate
- Propylparaben
- Titanium dioxide
- Brominated vegetable oil
- Yellow dye 5 or 6
- Blue dye 1 or 2
- Green dye 3
- Red dye 3 or 40
Additional Ingredients Excluded by Our Program
- BHA
- BHT
- Aspartame
- Azodicarbonamide (ADA)
- Propylgallate
- Methylene chloride
À La Carte (Snack) Purchases
Any snacks sold or served to students on campus during the school day must comply with federal and state Smart Snacks Standards. Per 7 CFR 210.11, the school day is defined as midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. All snack items must:
- Be a whole grain-rich product
- Have a fruit, vegetable, protein, or dairy product as the first ingredient
- Meet nutrient specifications as defined under Nutrition Standards
This applies to fundraiser food sales and any other food provided by district employees for consumption on campus during the school day. It does not apply to food parents or guardians send in from home for their own child. Foods brought in from home for classroom celebrations must be store-bought.
Check if a snack is compliant: Use the Smart Snacks Product Calculator to quickly determine if an item meets federal Smart Snacks Standards.
For more information, visit the Arizona Department of Education — Health & Nutrition Services.
Arizona Healthy Schools Act — Staff Acknowledgement
All Balsz administrators, teachers, and staff are asked to review and sign the district's Arizona Healthy Schools Act Acknowledgement Form to confirm awareness of and compliance with A.R.S. 15-242.01 requirements for the 2026–2027 school year.
Complete the Acknowledgement Form
