On May 19, it's time to revolutionize the way we eat - and the way we think about eating - with Food Revolution Day.

Launched by the Jamie Oliver Foundation, this is meant to be a global day of action to inspire, educate and empower people everywhere to stand up for real food. Dinner parties, cooking classes, gardening tutorials and other events aim to help people make healthier food choices and raise awareness about preventing diet-related diseases.

"(Jamie Oliver) has got the focus on getting people back in the kitchen and not relying on the processed and fast foods that are everywhere in our marketplace," explained Michelle Clermont, who is coordinating the event in London with the help of a team of volunteers.

This is the first-ever Food Revolution Day, but the plan is to make it an annual event, Clermont continued, adding that so far, hundreds of events are scheduled worldwide on that day. The net funds raised from events across the world will go to support food education projects for children and adults through the Jamie Oliver Foundation in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. Clermont added that a Jamie Oliver Foundation is in the process of being set up in Canada.

The free event in London, which will take place at the Covent Garden Market (130 King St.), will raise people's awareness of the risks associated with processed foods, help them understand how to read labels and teach them how to prepare foods in advance to save time and money in preparing meals on a day-to-day basis, said Clermont. She said planning and preparing are the two biggest hurdles many people face when feeling daunted by preparing healthy meals; one tip she gave was to chop up all the veggies you'll need on Sundays to save time during the week.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on May 19, Growing Chefs Ontario will host an event for children in the Labatt Room, teaching them about healthy eating and helping them create their own Mr. Potato Head using fruits and vegetables. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the room next to the Labatt Room, Clermont will talk to parents about nutrition for children, the importance of reading food package labels and more.

At 12 p.m., registered dietitian Melissa Briones will give attendees tips about buying fresh foods. She'll also give a tour through the market to see the vendors who have been challenged to create a revolutionary meal with real foods. The next session, which will begin at 1 p.m., will be a presentation by Dr. Kresimir Jug of the Gainsborough Family Chiropractic. He will be talking about the Life By Design program in London, which helps people of all ages and fitness levels become or continue to be lean, strong and fit. The final session, beginning at 3 p.m., will discuss healthy eating on a budget and how to set up a healthy kitchen. "You don't have to be (eating) frozen dinners and you don't have to be (eating) hot dogs and Kraft dinner - there are other choices out there that can be (made) pretty easily," Clermont said.

Clermont is still looking for volunteers, especially those who can help the kids during the morning session. For more information, email her at michelleclerm@gmail.com.

Register online for the May 19 Food Revolution Day in London at tinyurl.com/LondonFRD2012. You can watch more videos about Food Revolution Day at youtube.com/user/JamiesFoodRevolution.