Grants Cibola County Schools Partner with Elior School Dining for High-Quality Food Service

Cibola County, New Mexico, August 10, 2026 - Elior School Dining is proud to announce a new dining partnership with Grants Cibola County Schools beginning today, August 10th!  Elior prepares fresh and high-quality breakfast and lunch for 3,700 students in 11 schools including seven elementary schools and four middle and high schools. 

“Our partnership with Elior School Dining marks an exciting new chapter for our district’s nutrition program. By combining Elior’s culinary expertise and innovative menus with our commitment to student well-being, we are not just serving meals—we are fueling student success. This collaboration allows us to enhance the quality and variety of our daily offerings, ensuring every student has access to healthy, delicious meals they look forward to eating. We are thrilled to see our National School Lunch Program grow, thrive, and continue to support the health and academic achievement of our entire community,” says Edwina Gamboa, Nutrition Coordinator, Grants Cibola County Schools.

Elior’s proven success with other New Mexico public school systems including Farmington Municipal and Aztec Municipal School Districts—where the dining team currently supports 27 schools and 13,000 students - made Elior the clear choice for enhancing dining services at Grants Cibola County Schools.

Good Day Café, Elior’s high school brand, will debut its reimagined high school cafeteria with trending offerings including coffee, grab & go and deli options.  “Good Day Cafe takes inspiration from our college and university residential dining concepts and sets the mood for the coffee shop vibe high school students love, with the retail experience they expect,” says Elior Senior Vice Presidents of Operations Todd Hickman. 

Designed to encourage healthier eating, support learning, and, just as importantly, foster interaction among diverse student groups, the updated space will complement Grants Cibola County School colors, featuring vibrant graphics, refreshed merchandising, and dynamic digital signage displaying menus, daily specials, nutritional information, and engaging food visuals—part of a series of exciting enhancements to the dining experience. 

Elior’s branding will further enhance the dining experience for students at every level—bringing a focus on Healthy, Fresh, and Delicious options to the middle schools, while elementary school students will benefit from the Fantastic Five program, ensuring every meal includes a balanced selection of fruit, dairy, protein, vegetables, and grains.

A robust promotional portfolio will engage students including So Good, a unique program that highlights seasonal produce monthly; Global Bites, featuring authentic recipes from around the globe; Try It Tuesday, offering something new to the menu mix; and BeWell, Elior’s health and wellness platform, that offers additional healthier options and nutrition education to students at each grade level; 

In addition to healthy menu options, students will have access to Elior registered dietitians, who will provide menu planning support for specialized diets as well as nutrition counseling. 

“Our client is excited to grow participation, and our menus and promotions will encourage more students to enjoy nutritious, great-tasting meals in a fun and engaging way,” says Elior School Dining Regional Director of Operations Kelli Stradling. 

The Elior School Dining leadership team is happy to support the learning process.  They are: General Manager Lori Crowson; Regional Chef Christian Schultz; and Regional Menu Coordinator Evelyn Santos.