Use of food as a reward in the classroom undermines nutrition teaching, provides poor nutritional modeling and contributes to consumption of empty calories even without the feeling of hunger. Evidence shows that food rewards in the classroom also encourage using food as a personal reward and is a risk factor for childhood overweight and obesity. Health screenings done by OHSU nursing students (2010) showed that an astounding 23% of WMMS students were obese (95th percentile or greater), and 16% of EPMS students were obese. Assessment took place in two District 9 middle schools: Eagle Point (EPMS) and White Mountain (WMMS).Using electronic surveys, observation of meals and reward carts as well as informal interviewing of staff and students, four OHSU nursing students assessed middle school staff's readiness to change from using food as reward system to an alternative and engaged the student population in identifying acceptable alternative. The results indicate both schools have little to no recognition of the adverse effects of using food as a reward and provides ongoing opportunities to address the epidemic of childhood obesity.