BRANDYWINE, Vers. (Versmark National) — Ever since that fateful day on April 5, 2025, when five top government officials asked Foreign Minister Josh Ford the now infamous question: “If there was a Josh Ford Meal at McDonald’s, what would be in it?”
Rumors allege that the question was the result of a tongue-in-cheek bet placed by the majority British officials in a voice call, capitalizing on Ford’s American nationality and the stereotype of American gluttony and indulgence. They reportedly placed wagers on whether Ford would choose the Big Mac, or perhaps the Filet-o-Fish, or even McNuggets, in varying quantities.
Ford’s answer? The Quarter Pounder, “cheese and ketchup only,” with a large side of French fries, a large cup of lemonade, and six McNuggets.
The Quarter Pounder — McDonald’s trademark 0.25 lb all-beef patty, topped with a slice of American cheese, ketchup, and traditionally slivered onions, pickles, and mustard, between two sesame seed buns. Ford, a self-described “bit of a picky eater” chose to forego the onions, pickles, and mustard — three ingredients he is not fond of.
By bundling the Quarter Pounder as a large meal, he receives a large side of French fries and the fast-food brand’s relatively new offering: lemonade.
Using rewards points, he often redeems a six piece McNuggets on the side as well, lending further complexity to the winners of the ministers’ bet.
HSM Wald, the apparent winner, was slated to receive 30 Lehmark Digital Tokens (LDT), the overinflated cryptocurrency of the Empire of Lehmark — in of itself a meme in the Versmarkian community due to its hyperinflation and lack of liquidity.
Former Versmark National Editor-in-Chief Am Martin initially reported on the gastronomical phenomenon gripping the nation in an April special edition.
Now more than a year since the question was asked, mentions of the Josh Ford Meal, or JFM as abbreviated, have skyrocketed. Many have made the pilgrimage to their local McDonald’s to try Ford’s order.
A reader wrote to us recently and asked about the health benefits. Health benefits? It’s McDonald’s, not a damn salad! But, we relented. McDonald’s, as it turns out, has a nutritional calculator conveniently on its website. The results are in.
Calories
At a grand total of 1520 calories, this is not a recommended meal for those watching their waistline. A moderately active young man might need roughly 2400-3000 calories per day depending on their size an activity, while a more inactive or sedentary adult might need closer to 2000-2400 calories per day.
If you intend this Josh Ford Meal to replace multiple meals, its not necessarily excessive. But at 50-65% of a very active person’s daily needs and more than 75% of a lower calorie diet, its a lot if eaten alongside other meals and snacks.
Protein
The protein is where this meal shines. 52 grams of protein is roughly equivalent to two chicken breasts or a large protein shake plus a meal. New health advisories from the United States Department of Health and Human Services prioritize protein as one of the most important aspects to a health diet, but while President Trump might favor obtaining protein in this regard, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and every doctor in the United States might scoff at the notion.
Carbohydrates
Yikes. 189 grams of carbohydrates is considered very high. A typical recommendation is 225-325 grams per day on a 2000 calorie diet. This meal alone is about 70% of that amount. The primary concern is the quality of the carbs here: with most from the buns and the fries, and 72g of sugar with 60g of that added. That amount of sugar is something more consistent with two cans of soda or a good size dessert.
Fat
64 grams of fat provides about 576 calories from fat and around 38% of the meal’s calories. The bigger issue is the type.
The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat to about 13g per day on a 2000 calorie diet. This is 17.5 grams. That is around 135% of the AHA’s recommendation. High saturated fat intake over time is associated with increased LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels and heightened cardiovascular risk.
Trans fat
New nutrition standards have greatly reduced industrial trans fats, and many diets aim for as close to zero as possible. 1.5g in one meal is higher than ideal, but not entirely catastrophic.
Sodium
This is the real kicker. 1965mg of sodium in this one meal, with the recommendation for daily adult intake at 2300 mg/day means this is 86% of your entire daily sodium allowance. The large fries might be tasty, but they really are not great for you.
For someone eating healthy who might eat the JFM occasionally, it is usually manageable, but if you eat it daily, its a real concern.
Sugar
The American Heart Association recommends roughly less than or equal to 36g added sugar per day for men, and less than or equal to 25 g/day for women. This meal is 167% of the recommendation for men, and 240% for women coming in at 72g total with 60g added. Sugar at this level can contribute to blood glucose spikes, increased cravings, and easier overeating.
Fiber
8g is better than many fast-food meals. However, adults generally need 25-38g/day, and this meal would only give about 20-30% of daily needs.
Vitamins and Minerals
At 1720mg of Potassium, this is overall a positive. Potassium helps balance sodium and supports muscle and nerve function, and blood pressure regulation.
At 6mg of Iron this is useful, especially for those with higher iron needs.
At 245mg of Calcium, its pretty moderate and ultimately unremarkable.
Our Assessment
While this might be Josh Ford’s go-to at McDonald’s, we hope it isn’t an everyday meal. The 52g of protein makes it significantly better than just a pure calorie bomb, but the combination of 1520 calories, 1965mg sodium, 60g added sugar, and 17.5g saturated fat makes it pretty heavy on the system.
Overall, a meal like this isn’t the best option, but had once in a while, it won’t do you much bad.