We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Healthy snacks prior and after donating blood

ericaolsen
ericaolsen Posts: 9
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
This may sound like a silly question, but this Friday I'm donating blood to a hospital and as I've donated blood in the past, I know they strongly recommend eating lots of sugary foods to keep your blood sugar up. I don't want to chow down on fatty foods though, so are there any alternatives that would be considered healthy but keep me from passing out at the same time?

Replies

  • jgoff3003
    jgoff3003 Posts: 189 Member
    I eat a banana or an apple before and then the same afterwards, I get the natural sugar into me. Or i have some dired fruit or a low fat/sugar museli bar. I suggest uncle toby body wise berry fusion 86 calories
    or have some realy fruit juise (you make your self no added sugar)
  • oxFaithxo
    oxFaithxo Posts: 160 Member
    i know whenever i donate blood they told me to eat iron enriched foods and bananas LOL... but um i bet peanut butter would be great because it is a good fat :)
    And stay away from caffiene
  • rileamoyer
    rileamoyer Posts: 2,412 Member
    Pure orange juice is good too.
  • lilybug13
    lilybug13 Posts: 154
    Oatmeal or yogurt. I donated last week :-)
  • CharityD
    CharityD Posts: 193
    Reminds me I need to donate!
  • bizco
    bizco Posts: 1,949 Member
    I've never worried about eating prior to donating blood and nothing bad has ever happened to me. But, when I'm done donating I do take the time to eat the snacks the blood-collectors have available. Usually it's orange juice and fig newton cookies, so that would be good to eat prior.
  • ericaolsen
    ericaolsen Posts: 9
    Thank you all!
  • jimbo831
    jimbo831 Posts: 15
    Thanks everyone for the very helpful information. I am donating on the 29th and was just thinking about this same dilemma to avoid eating the cookies they always give away!
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    You don't have to eat processed sugary stuff - in fact, as long as you have eaten a decent breakfast/lunch before you go in that should be fine.
    My blood bank is more specific about drinking lots of water, especially as I donate plasma. I have to say I agree with them after fainting the first time. Now I drink lots and haven't had any further problems.
    They usually give me chocolate and pizza afterwards, but I spotted cheese and crackers last time and decided that was probably a better bet :)
    Thanks for the reminder, I must give them a call and book another time.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories