Jamie Oliver Leads a Food Revolution in U.S. Schools

Who he is: Jamie Oliver, chef and TV personality, is well known for his Naked Chef TV show and book. He is currently the host of Food Revolution.

Why he's green: Jamie Oliver is helping kids eat better and feel better – one school lunch at a time. His television show Food Revolution takes on one of the unhealthiest towns in America and attempts to change the way people think about food. Oliver strives to make people reconsider how they feed themselves and their children, with characteristic passion and humor. His dedication to helping people make healthy choices is unparalleled and that's why The Daily Green honored him with a 2010 Heart of Green Award April 20 at a ceremony in New York City.

What he says: In his acceptance speech for his 2010 Heart of Green Award, Oliver said he aims to "get more schools to switch from processed to fresh foods, and hopes to inspire more people to learn to cook."

Photo: Holly Farrell/ABC via Getty Images

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He's brash, blond – and he just might save us from ourselves. He's chef Jamie Oliver, and he's working to change the way Americans and Britons eat – one school lunch at a time.

Jamie Oliver has spent virtually his entire life in the kitchen – the British chef and healthy foods advocate grew up working in his father's Essex pub. Those early years instilled in him a love of good food and nutrition. Oliver attended Westminster Catering College and got his start at the renowned Neal Street Restaurant and River Café before striking out on his own with the wildly popular BBC program The Naked Chef.

The Naked Chef made him a big hit with foodies and it gave him a national platform to share his food philosophy with the world – make food that's simple, healthy and flavorful. And now he's leading the charge against childhood obesity and inspiring a food revolution.

And that's why Oliver's been awarded the Heart of Green Food Revolutionary Award. His standout passion and commitment to changing people's lives is truly inspiring. Don't believe us? Just check out his newest series, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. In it, Oliver takes on one of the unhealthiest towns in America, Huntington, W.Va., and attempts to change the residents' eating habits.

Food Revolution is reflective of Oliver's overall goal – to pass on healthy eating and cooking habits – especially to children. It can be seen in his work to improve school lunch programs in the U.S. and Britain. And it's reflected in his work with disadvantaged kids (some of whom competed for an ultra-coveted spot working in one of his restaurants on the British television show Fifteen).

Oliver's efforts haven't gone unnoticed. In 2003 he received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. And earlier this year he won a 2010 TED Prize for his work to create healthy change.

For all he's done to help inform and inspire people to make healthy choices, Jamie Oliver is a true food revolutionary.

See more from the 2010 Heart of Green Awards

Get a taste of Jamie Oliver's passion during his TED Talk:

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