Hello, I’m young and work as an AI Technician at Google, which means I earn a good salary. My parents are not elderly, but they are both currently jobless and rely on my income and live in my house. I want to clarify that it’s a pleasure for me to support my parents and be there for them. However, I’m facing a small issue and would appreciate you guys’ help.
My mom is doing fine, but the problem lies with my dad. He’s not addicted to alcohol like some people, but he is addicted to ultra-processed foods and consumes large quantities every day. I order healthy meals from trusted restaurants for both of them and myself, and he eats those as well, but he still indulges in a lot of unhealthy snacks like ice cream, chips, energy drinks, and candies. Like, Too much of them. This situation worries me because of the impact it could have on his health.
I’ve tried talking to him about it and convincing him to cut back and eat less unhealthy food, he always agrees but then continues to eat even more unhealthy food. My question is:
Should I intervene and try to stop him from eating that junk food forcefully altogether, perhaps by withholding money for those items or limiting his daily spending? I’m concerned about being disrespectful, as they are my parents who gave birth to me and raised me at the end of the day. It’s important to note that they weren’t always jobless; they only retired after I started my high-paying job and was able to support them.
What do you think? Should I take action to help my dad eat healthier, or should I respect his choices as an adult and not overstep my boundaries? Thank you for your thoughts.
Why do you think that having coercive power over someone means you should exercise it?
On the other hand, why are you giving them unlimited money today? Can you really limit it enough that he wouldn’t prioritize chips and cookies?