Post blood donation snacks

Elf_Princess1210

I just gave blood and afterwards, of course, they sent me to the "canteen" with the direction to have a snack and water. Water was no problem, but the snacks, oh my! All kinds of carb-heavy, sugary snacks there! I about had a heart attack just reading the labels. I knew I needed to eat something, and I finally settled on a package of Nutter Butters for 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. My question is this, if you give blood, what do you do for a snack? Is it really important to have something high-carb? I am thinking next time I will take my own snack, like an apple or banana. Just wondering if anyone has other suggestions or things that work for you. I don't want to take this one snack out of proportion or anything, I really just prefer to stay away from the packaged snacks, as much as for the taste as the fact that they are so processed!!!

I work as a blood center tech. Let me explain the reasoning why we want you to have sugary snacks:
You have to remember that when you donate blood, you are donating some of what I like to call your "life force"
All sorts of red cells, nutrients and proteins are taken away.
Some people feel a little faint after they donate and it is because of two main reasons. Loss of volume triggers a "vasovagal reaction" and the loss of some glucose when you donate.
That's why we enquire that you guys have a nice meal before you donate and we give you some snacks to make sure you're not going to pass out in the next hour or two.
I hope this helps!!
Have a nice day!!

See, some OJ and cookies won't blow your diet!!

Edited for clarity

SavCal71

When I was in the Navy, we could get the afternoon off if we donated blood, so we would take the opportunity to go to the base club and have a few beers. Of course, it doesn't take as much to get a buzz after you've donated blood.

:noway: :glasses: :embarassed: :drinker:

My xh and his coworkers called it Vampire Leave. They leave at 11, go give blood, then go to the bar and drink. I often had to drive him home, lol.

AmyRhubarb

I always go for the raisins and whatever sugary snack I feel like having - cookies, ice cream, whatever. I gave a pint, I deserve it and enjoy it.

victoria4321

I go for the oreo cookies, pretzels, and cheese filled crackers. I usually only donated blood when it got me out of work or class though, so it's been a while.

shbretired

Ask for a cup of hot water, and add a packet of Miso soup to it, it's energizing and only 35 calories.

I just had some.

JustPeachy044

wow. I had no idea I'd get this many responses! In reference to working out, I had to laugh b/c the tech asked me about "strenuous activities for the day". I told her I did kickboxing this morning and she replied "You aren't planning to do that again today, are you?!" I laughed and said, "no, I don't want to pass out!" I may wait until later tomorrow to go for the kettlebells/abs work out!

And I am getting plenty of water! Always! I drank water on the way there, and while there had 2 of their 16.9 oz. bottles. Then I drank it the rest of the day. I love water! (weird, I know)

I am not allowing extra calories but will try to eat what I am "supposed" to today. I am not at that super low 1200 anymore, not since reading the "eat more to lose" threads and starting to increase calories at the beginning of this week. I am budgeting 1600 plus exercise calories.

I tried to do "double reds" but my hemoglobin was too low at 38. Next time, a big spinach salad and a steak/egg breakfast! I ate a great lunch as recommended before I went though.

And thank you for all the snack recommendations. Next time, I think I will bring some chocolate almonds and a piece of fruit along with all my water. I really don't like the sugary snacks anymore, but the fructose in the fruit should do the trick! As well as the protein and fat in the nuts.

VMarkV

Coconut water...it would be a good idea to start replacing all that fluid and electrolytes you just lost. V8 works too

bashiera

wow. I had no idea I'd get this many responses! In reference to working out, I had to laugh b/c the tech asked me about "strenuous activities for the day". I told her I did kickboxing this morning and she replied "You aren't planning to do that again today, are you?!" I laughed and said, "no, I don't want to pass out!" I may wait until later tomorrow to go for the kettlebells/abs work out!

And I am getting plenty of water! Always! I drank water on the way there, and while there had 2 of their 16.9 oz. bottles. Then I drank it the rest of the day. I love water! (weird, I know)

I am not allowing extra calories but will try to eat what I am "supposed" to today. I am not at that super low 1200 anymore, not since reading the "eat more to lose" threads and starting to increase calories at the beginning of this week. I am budgeting 1600 plus exercise calories.

I tried to do "double reds" but my hemoglobin was too low at 38. Next time, a big spinach salad and a steak/egg breakfast! I ate a great lunch as recommended before I went though.

And thank you for all the snack recommendations. Next time, I think I will bring some chocolate almonds and a piece of fruit along with all my water. I really don't like the sugary snacks anymore, but the fructose in the fruit should do the trick! As well as the protein and fat in the nuts.

If you want to do double reds, start eating more iron now. Also, do you mean hematocrit? A hemoglobin of 38 is off the charts! It'll take a while for the hemoglobin/hematocrit level to rise without a transfusion/epogen. A hematocrit of 38 for a grown woman isn't too bad, and 12-18 is the normal hemoglobin (but 12.5 is the minimum to donate). Try a slow-release iron supplement taken with OJ (yes, juice isn't the best food, but it's the easiest and cheapest way to get your iron down with vitamin c) because vitamin c helps iron absorption. Also don't take iron with tea or calcium.