Former White House chef Sam Kass, left, made his debut on NBC’s "Today” show this morning as the NBC News senior food analyst, with show hosts Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer. (From NBC video)

In the first sign of how First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign for healthier eating may play out after President Barack Obama leaves office, former White House chef and aide Sam Kass prepared fruit on NBC’s “Today” show today and said he would be bringing stories of innovation and technology to the network.

Kass, who was executive director of the first lady’s Let’s Move! campaign against childhood obesity and a senior adviser on nutrition policy to President Barack Obama, was named a senior food analyst for NBC News on Wednesday and made his debut on the “Today” show today.

In a pre-taped video that featured photos of him in the White House kitchen garden with the first lady and students, Kass said he was “very proud of the work we did” on school meals and changing the “culture” that surrounds food.

Introducing his philosophy of food to the viewers, Kass said food brings joy to people and “connects us with our loved ones.”

“When I am cooking all my senses are active, I feel engaged and happy,” Kass said. “Food is my life, it is what I think about morning, noon and night.”

The interest in organic food and farm fresh food has resulted in “a total revolution” in how Americans view food, he said, noting the growing number of cheesemakers and beer brewers around the country.

In the live portion of the segment, Kass told hosts Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie that since this is “sweet week” on the “Today” show, he wanted to get fruit back into what people think about when they think of sweet things.

Americans are eating only 40 percent as much fruit as they should, he said.

Fruit should be washed immediately before eating it rather than when it is brought home, he said, because the water from washing can lead to mildew.

Guthrie noted that there is sugar in fruit, but Kass said it is correct to “worry” about sugar in fruit juice, but not in fruit.

He made a fruit salad and said he always adds lemon juice to a fruit salad. Today he added basil and in response to a question said it is OK to add salt to fruit.

Kass also made a blueberry fruit slushie. To make a slushie from any fruit, he advised freezing the fruit on a sheet tray or using commercially frozen fruit and putting it in a blender with seltzer water or fruit juice.

Kass also made his contribution to the personality-oriented style of morning TV. The previous segment featured actor Kevin Bacon, who remarked that he was glad he still has hair on his head when so many men his age do not.

Kass, who shaves his head, and the balding Lauer both objected to Bacon’s view that is important for men to maintain a full head of hair.

• “Today” (video) — Sam Kass, newest member of Today Food, gives us the skinny on fruit

Sam Kass adds fresh basil to a strawberry, blackberry and blueberry salad. (NBC video)