This lovable Brit is not only a talented Chef, but has taken his passion and love for food to people all over the world through inspiring the UK and the rest of the world to cook healthy nutritious food. Jamie Oliver has made his mark on the world through his books, television series, and wanting to make a difference through offering opportunities to disadvantaged teenagers and ensuring that school students get the nutritious food that they deserve.

Achievements

· Oliver created the Fifteen Foundation in 2002. Each year, 15 young adults who have a disadvantaged background, criminal record or history of drug abuse, are trained in the restaurant business.

· In 2003, he was awarded an MBE.

· In 2005, he initiated a campaign called “Feed me Better” in order to move British school children towards eating healthy foods and cutting junk food. As a result, the British government also pledged to address the issue. Delving into politics to push for changes in nutrition resulted in people voting him as the “Most Inspiring Political Figure of 2005.”

· A great proponent of fresh organic foods, Oliver was named the most influential person in the UK hospitality industry when he topped the inaugural CatererSearch 100 in May 2005. In 2006, Oliver was named 2nd on the list behind fellow celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

· In December 2009 Oliver was awarded the 2010 TED Prize for his campaigns to “create change on both the individual and governmental level” in order to “bring attention to the changes Englanders and now Americans need to make in their lifestyles and diet.”

· Oliver is a patron of environmental charity Trees for Cities.

Making A Difference

Wanting to create something positive using his wealth and fame, Oliver conceived and established the Fifteen charity restaurant where he trained 15 disadvantaged young people to work in the hospitality industry. Following the success of the original restaurant in London, more Fifteens have opened around the globe: Fifteen Amsterdam opened in December 2004, Fifteen Cornwall in Newquay opened in May 2006, and Fifteen Melbourne opened in September 2006 with Australian friend and fellow chef Tobie Puttock.

Oliver then began a formal campaign to ban unhealthy food in British schools and get children eating fresh, tasty, nutritious food instead. Oliver’s efforts to bring radical change to the school meals system, chronicled in the series “Jamie’s School Dinners“, challenged the junk food culture by showing schools they could serve healthy, cost-efficient meals that kids enjoyed eating. Jamie’s efforts brought the subject of school dinners to the political forefront and changed the types of food served in schools. subsequent to Oliver’s efforts, the UK Government pledged to spend £280m on school dinners (spread over three years). Tony Blair himself acknowledged that this was a result of Oliver’s campaign. Following the success of the campaign, Oliver was named “Most Inspiring Political Figure of 2005″ in the Channel 4 Political Awards 2006.

Jamie Oliver plans to set his sights on America as he looks to tackle Americas child obesity crisis and achieve a similar outcome of healthy nutrition options in schools for American children, which will be aired on his show Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution (2010).

Television

Oliver’s programmes are shown in over 40 countries, including the USA’s Food Network. Oliver’s Twist and “Pukka Tukka” picked up where “The Naked Chef” left off. More recently, Jamie has been doing series based on campaigns to improve food in schools and cooking skills of the average person.

The Naked Chef (1998–1999), Pukka Tukka (2000),

Oliver’s Twist (2002), Jamie’s Kitchen (2002), Jamie’s Kitchen Australia (2006), Jamie’s School Dinners (2005), Jamie’s Great Italian Escape (2005), Jamie’s Chef (2007), Jamie at Home (2007), Jamie’s Fowl Dinners (2008), Jamie’s Ministry of Food (2008), What’s Cooking? with Jamie Oliver (2008), Jamie Saves Our Bacon (2009), Jamie’s American Road Trip (2009), Jamie’s Family Christmas (2009), Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution (2010).

Books

Something for the Weekend, The Naked Chef, The Return of the Naked Chef, Happy Days with the Naked Chef, The Naked Chef Takes Off, Jamie’s Kitchen, Jamie’s Dinners, Jamie’s Italy, Cook With Jamie: My Guide to Making You a Better Cook , Jamie’s Little Book of Big Treats, Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life, Jamie’s Ministry of Food: Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24 Hours, Published in America as Jamie’s Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals, Jamie’s Red Nose Recipes, Jamie’s America.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Oliver