‘He does not think twice to destroy his health’ — Daughter breaks down over father’s junk food obsession

SINGAPORE: Deeply concerned that her father’s eating habits may one day cost him his life, a daughter turned to social media to seek advice, asking fellow netizens, “How do I get my elderly parent from eating junk food?”

Posting on the r/askSingapore subreddit on Sunday (Aug 3), the daughter explained that she has done everything she possibly could to keep her father healthy. 

She reminds him regularly to eat more balanced meals, pays S$1,200 annually for his health check-ups, gives him enough allowance to afford fresh, nutritious food, and offers emotional support whenever he needs it. 

Yet, despite all this, she feels nothing is changing. In fact, she said it seems to be getting worse.

“Lately, he has been eating instant noodles, lucheon meat, processed fishballs, and the list goes on. He buys lots of junk food, never-ending crackers, chocolate-coated waffles, junk food after junk food,” she wrote.

“I came home from a long trip, and he surprised me with another deep fryer, more junk food, and he seems so proud of it. I’m breaking down in tears now. Why do some people eat themselves to death? At this rate, he’s not gonna live a good old age. My best friend’s father died from a diet-related sickness. I do not wish this on any parent,” she added.

In her desperation, she has even considered paying someone to prepare home-cooked meals for him every day, but she admitted she already knows he would likely turn them down or quietly throw them out. 

“I’m angry and desperate. I do my best to give him allowance, comfort, support him, but he does not think twice to destroy his health and break my heart. Does he want to die so he won’t stop eating these junk food? How do I stop him? I’m wondering if anyone is dealing with this?” she asked at the end of her post.

“It’s hard to stop elderly. They won’t listen.”

In the discussion thread, one Singaporean Redditor shared that his own parents behave similarly and said it’s unlikely the father would completely give up junk food.

He also mentioned that older people can be quite set in their ways, so instead of trying to change everything at once, it might be better to start small and slowly help them build better habits.

He added, “You can help to strike a balance, introduce healthier options and food to his diet, not by telling him, but by just cooking/buying and then eating together with him. Slowly, he won’t realise that he’s been eating more healthy food. When you keep nagging at them, they won’t really listen.”

Another Redditor suggested taking over the grocery shopping completely, writing, “Can you make sure no junk food in the house? Maybe take over the shopping and buy fresh veg, and so on. He might be buying junk because it’s cheaper, but it’s hard to stop elderly. They won’t listen.”

A third added, “I had the same problem with my uncle… Consider ordering food delivery. Elderly folks eat junk because it is convenient, not because they love it… it is a good middle ground for taste and their laziness. If they had better choices on their lap, they wouldn’t be eating junk food. Do try food delivery or get a maid to cook.”

In other news, one woman, who recently met up with a close friend she had feelings for over 15 years, confessed on social media that she deeply regretted never admitting her feelings back then.

Sharing her story on Reddit’s ‘SGexams’ forum on Sunday (Aug 3), the woman revealed that she was about 13 years old when she first realised she liked her friend.

Read more: Woman reunites with old friend and confesses online that she regrets never revealing her feelings during their 15-year friendship