Latest news with #BigMacs
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"I never got f---ing hurt": While others meal-prepped, Chad Johnson says McDonald's was his not-so-secret NFL health strategy
Chad Johnson swears McDonald's was the key to his NFL durability (Imagn Images) While most elite athletes swear by strict diets and carefully curated meal plans, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson has always followed a very different path—one that leads straight to the Golden Arches. The former NFL star insists that his surprising health throughout his career was powered not by superfoods or supplements, but by McDonald's. McDonald's over meal prep? Chad Johnson says Big Macs helped him survive the NFL without injuries At the Sports Illustrated Awards, Chad Johnson didn't hesitate to give full credit to his fast-food favorite. 'I want people to realize that playing professional sports … that these high-end places that force you to eat what they consider to be healthy, there's a reason why your bodies are breaking down,' he told SI's Ashley Nicole Moss. The outspoken wide receiver, known for his eccentric lifestyle, firmly believes that indulging in whatever you enjoy builds durability—not weakness. During his 11-season run in the NFL, Johnson was remarkably resilient. He suited up for the full 16-game schedule seven times and never missed more than a few games in any season. Johnson attributes this toughness to his controversial philosophy: 'The body needs to build a callous. How do you do that? By eating whatever you want.' Ochocinco dominated the field because he ate McDonald's #Facts McDonald's wasn't just a guilty pleasure for Johnson—it was a lifestyle. He openly discussed his eating habits on HBO's Hard Knocks back in 2009, saying, 'Don't let them tell you that McDonald's is bad for you. Eat what you wanna eat and you work out the way you're supposed to. It's not gonna bother you.' Even off the field, Johnson lived unconventionally. Despite earning millions, he famously lived in the Bengals' stadium for two years to save money. 'As a rookie coming into the league, I stayed at [Paul Brown Stadium] my first two years because there was no point in spending money and wasting money when everything I need is already there,' he told Entertainment Tonight. He also didn't leave his grandmother's house until his fourth NFL season, preferring comfort over luxury. In an episode of I Am Athlete, Johnson passionately debated former teammate Brandon Marshall, arguing that his health came from his fast-food fueled resilience. 'I never got f---ing hurt, never... you know why? Because I ate McDonald's and I built a f---ing callus in my body.' He claimed that players who follow ultra-healthy diets often find themselves more injury-prone, saying, 'You eat all this healthy stuff and sterilize everything. .. your immune system can't fight shit off.' Love it or hate it, Chad Johnson's message is clear: eat what you love, train hard, and let your body adapt naturally. In an era where wellness trends dominate sports culture, Johnson's bold stance is both controversial and captivating—and it's got everyone talking. Also Read: With Taylor Swift watching, Travis Kelce bounces back from career low and impresses Chiefs' coaches
New York Post
10-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
China chows on US fast food at London trade talks
China's trade negotiators surrendered at the end of the second day of US trade talks in London — by feasting on American fast food, The Post has learned. The famished Chinese delegation ordered a delivery of McDonald's, Burger King and KFC after the day-long negotiations at just after 7:30 p.m. local time, sources said. Team Trump — featuring Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer — also turned to a fast-food option. However, they dined on takeout from Pizza Express, a British chain specializing in handmade pizzas, the sources told The Post. 4 Chinese officials were left humiliated at the end of trade talks against Trump's team by ordering takeout made up entirely of US fast food. The president, seen above during the campaign last year, is a known aficionado of McDonald's meals. Getty Images One insider branded Beijing's gastronomic choices as 'a total cultural victory' for the United States, even though there was no deal announced on ending the tariff trade spat in sight. 4 The Trump administration team dined out on handmade pizzas from the British restaurant chain Pizza Express, sources said. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images A spokesman for China's embassy to the UK did not respond to The Post's request for comment. The US and China meting at Lancaster House to try and build on negotiations in Geneva last month that agreed to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating global trade war. Lancaster House, an 18th-century mansion a stone's throw from Buckingham Palace, is close to the upmarket neighborhood of Mayfair that is home to some of the British capital's best restaurants. The move by Chinese officials, led by Vice Premier He Lifeng, may be seen as a blow to the host country, which has repeatedly seen its culinary capabilities derided by snooty foreigners throughout history. Insiders refused to be drawn in on whether the meals of choice for Beijing's top brass could raise the chances of success for a possible agreement with Washington. 4 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who called the talks 'productive', has left London to appear in Congress on Wednesday. REUTERS Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is on the way back to DC and will debrief Congress on Wednesday, called the meeting 'productive.' On Monday, President Trump told reporters: 'We are doing well with China. China's not easy.' The commander-in-chief is known to be a fast food aficionado and even served diners at a McDonald's drive-thru during a campaign stop in the swing state of Pennsylvania in October. 4 Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and his team snubbed some of London's finest restaurants on Tuesday. REUTERS His preferred order at the Chicago-based fast food chain is two Big Macs, two Filet-o-Fish sandwiches, and a chocolate milkshake, according to a 2017 book written by two former campaign staffers. The 'Let Trump Be Trump: The Inside Story of His Rise to the Presidency' tome was penned by Corey Lewandowski and David Bossi. On the table for trade talks, aside from the fast food, are the levies slapped on semiconductors that power artificial intelligence, visas for Chinese students at American universities, and rare earth minerals that are vital to carmakers and other industries. The negotiations were sparked by the threat of Trump's so-called Liberation Day reciprocal tariffs, which he threatened to slap on countries that he believed had been treating the US unfairly.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Vintage McDonald's Cutlery That Was 'Banned' For An Unexpected Reason
In the 1970s and 1980s, McDonald's was known for more than just Big Macs and Happy Meals. It sounds too absurd to be true, but the fast food giant accidentally became part of the earliest stages of the "War on Drugs." It involved a tiny plastic coffee spoon, a drug epidemic, and an eventual government crackdown. Before we learned just how awful single-use plastic was, the innocent-looking utensil was first introduced as a convenient tool for stirring coffee. The offender was about five inches long and featured a small, flattened scoop at the end — just enough to stir a serving of sugar or cream into a cup of coffee. With the iconic golden arches as its handle, the spoon was another effort to add branding to the customer experience. But it wasn't long before the spoon found an unexpected second life outside of McDonald's dining rooms ... Cocaine use was truly booming in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and its fans were always looking for an easy way to measure clean, consistent bumps of the drug. The McDonald's spoon just happened to be the perfect size and shape for this purpose. This little tool became so widely associated with cocaine that it soon earned the nickname "the McSpoon." Its popularity in both the underground drug world and upper-class dinner parties didn't go unnoticed. One Connecticut newspaper in 1979 remarked, "One thing is certain: From the Tiffany's set to the McDonald's crowd, New York is snowed in coke." Read more: Taco Bell's Decades Menu Brings Back Old Faves, And We Ranked Them The U.S. government soon took issue with the spoon. At a hearing with senators and anti-drug activists, a lobbyist for the drug paraphernalia trade quipped that, "This is the best cocaine spoon in town and it's free with every cup of coffee at McDonald's." Unfortunately, the joke backfired. One of the activists attending, Joyce Nalepka, decided to personally call McDonald's then-president Edward Schmidt and ask him to replace and redesign the infamous McSpoon. Her talk must have been pretty persuasive, because the spoons soon disappeared from American McD's, replaced by a flat plastic coffee stir stick. Over time, the McDonald's coke spoon has become something of a pop culture relic. It has appeared in online forums, drug history retrospectives, and even as one of the nostalgia buys on eBay, where vintage versions of the spoon occasionally sell as collector's items. Of course, McDonald's never created or distributed the spoon with any malicious intent. But in the eyes of law enforcement and drug culture observers, the spoon had become too closely linked to illegal activities. The story of the McDonald's coffee spoon is a cautionary tale of unintended consequences. Even the most mundane products can be swept up in larger cultural trends, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Today, the tiny plastic spoon lives on as a quirky footnote in the surprisingly intertwined histories of fast food and America's War on Drugs. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
I tried McDonald's new Big Arch burger - one thing made it better than a Big Mac
McDonald's have launched a brand new burger to their menu - and it is advertised as the next generation of burgers. The fast food giant unveiled their brand new Big Arch burger, perfect for those craving something new from the beloved fast food chain. Despite being renowned for their Big Macs, McDonald's have crafted the Big Arch burger with a brand new secret sauce and it has totally revamped the burger game. This burger is built for serious hunger, with two beef patties, three cheese slices, crispy onions, fresh onions, gherkins, lettuce and the brand new sauce. Thomas O'Neill, head of menu at McDonald's UK & Ireland told the Mirror that the fast food chain's fame served as their own inspiration for the new burger, saying: "[We've been] famous for beef burgers for so many years, but we wanted to take our customers to the next generation of beef burgers so it feels new but feels contemporary. "The sauce is what makes it different, this sauce is designed just for this burger. It's also bigger to help for those who have that 'McDonald's hunger'. The bun is new, which gives a flavour and texture difference, there is also two different types of onion, two quarter pounder patties, three slices of white cheddar which melts with the beef and gives it the classic McDonald's taste," he added. I was lucky enough to try the Big Arch for myself and here's what I thought... I wasn't sure what to expect, as I didn't really think there could be much else you can change when it comes to a cheese burger - but I was wrong. The first thing I noticed was that the bun was completely different, it was a seeded bun with poppy seeds which was a nice touch. I also learned how the new Big Arch sauce was applied differently, it was put on the top and bottom bun instead of just the top bun like the Big Mac, which is to coat your whole mouth with sauce rather than just the top - and the sauce is absolutely delicious. It has more of a kick to it than the Big Mac sauce, and is a lot tastier. While the sauce was a great new addition and interesting to have it on both buns, it made it very messy. I had sauce all over my hands and I got through quite a lot of napkins, so I don't think it's one you could eat in the car from a drive thru. There are two beef patties and three mild cheddar slices which gives it a nice creamy taste, and the iconic gherkins and lettuce give it the extra crunch. It's clear McDonald's have designed the Big Arch burger for those who don't do things by halves. Overall, I'm a huge fan of the new burger, it's definitely something different and exciting for the McDonald's menu and I would recommend everyone to try. However I do wish it wasn't as messy. Any McDonald's fan will know all of the best menu items are limited editions, however Thomas said if the Big Arch proves to be a big hit, it could stay on the menu permanently, fingers crossed! The Big Arch is available in restaurants and via McDelivery® from Wednesday, 18th June.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why I'll Continue to Invest in Gold, at Least for Another Year
June 2, 2025 (Maple Hill Syndicate) - About 14 months ago, I wrote a column about gold. I don't think gold is an investment for all seasons, I wrote, but right now, I think it's sensible to hold some. That turned out to be right. Gold is up about 51% since I made that recommendation, including a 25% gain this year through May 30. So, what now? Take your golden profits and run? I don't think so. Most of my clients have about 6% of their portfolio assets in gold, and I'm considering increasing that. Gold doesn't have profits or pay dividends, so evaluating it is harder than evaluating a stock. However, I think there are four major factors that move the price of gold: inflation, real interest rates, the dollar and geopolitics. Inflation Gold is traditionally considered a hedge against inflation, because it tends to hold its purchasing power. Today a Big Mac sandwich costs about $6 and an ounce of gold sells for about $3,300. So, one ounce of gold could buy 555 Big Macs. If inflation worsens and a Big Mac three years from now costs $8, it would not be surprising for gold to command a price of $4,400. Then an ounce of the previous metal would still pay for 555 Big Macs. Will inflation worsen? After all, a few days ago President Trump said that he had solved inflation. In support of that assertion, he has said repeatedly that the price of gasoline is under $2 a gallon. I hate to break it to the President, but when I bought gas last week it cost $2.99 a gallon. Meanwhile, Congress appears likely to pass a budget that features a gigantic budget deficit. To finance deficits, the U.S. Treasury may be forced to issue more bonds. Many economists view that as inflationary. In addition, the tariffs that President Trump has proposed would add to inflation, in my view, by making a variety of goods more expensive. Real Rates For gold, low real interest rates are good and high real interest rates are bad. The real interest rate is the rate paid on fixed-income instruments like bonds, minus the inflation rate. An old rule of thumb was that bond investors want to earn three percentage points more than inflation for example, a 6% interest rate if inflation is running 3%. That rule turned out to be too simplistic, but the general point behind it is valid. Gold and bonds are competitors: They compete for the dollars of risk-averse investors. If bonds are more attractive, gold is less so. Ten-year Treasury bonds currently pay about 4.4% interest. Inflation for the year through April was about 2.3%. So, the real interest rate is somewhere in the neighborhood of 2.1%. That's not terrible but it's below the historical average. The Dollar The strength of the dollar is partly a gauge of how much faith people in other countries have in the United States. Less faith equals more jitters. More jitters may inspire a flight to gold. One thing people need dollars for is to buy U.S. goods and services. If trade barriers are erected, people and businesses in other countries have less need for dollars, so the dollar might decline in price relative to the Euro, the yen and other currencies. What would a weak dollar mean for gold? Historically, gold has generally done well when the dollar was weak, and poorly when the dollar is strong. There are exceptions, notably 2023-2024, when the dollar was strong and gold rose nevertheless. Ned David Research, an outfit for which I have considerable respect, is predicting a weak dollar and strength in gold for 2025. Geopolitics The more stress there is in the world, the better for gold. In the U.S., people worried about geopolitical tensions may buy gold as a defensive holding. That's even more true in China, India and Europe. Despite sporadic efforts at peace talks, there are two hot wars in progress between Russia and Ukraine, and between Israel and Gaza. In addition, there are at least two notable cold wars, between the U.S. and China, and between the U.S. and Iran. To me, that geopolitical backdrop most likely signals continued strength in gold. Bear in mind that most performance information in my column is hypothetical and shouldn't be confused with results I obtain for clients. Also, past performance doesn't predict the future. Disclosure: Personally, and for most of my clients, I own shares in SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), an exchange traded fund that represents ownership of a fraction of a large store of physical gold. John Dorfman is chairman of Dorfman Value Investments LLC in Boston, Massachusetts. He or his clients may own or trade securities discussed in this column. He can be reached at jdorfman@ This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
