Post blood donation snacks

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JustPeachy044
JustPeachy044 Posts: 770 Member
in Food and Nutrition
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!!!
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Replies

  • cks3d1
    cks3d1 Posts: 39
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    I usually go for the white cheddar popcorn or pretzels.. .and occassionally the little package of oreos to go!
    i have a weakness for oreos!

    It is important to put something back in your body after donating and like you said if you are that concerned over what they offer, bring your own after donation snack next time.
  • mirthegeologist
    mirthegeologist Posts: 143 Member
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    I go for the raisins or I'll much on an apple that I brought. I think that they are trying to make sure that you get some fluids & sugar in you to prevent post-donation fainting.
  • whatevany
    whatevany Posts: 109 Member
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    I'm donating blood in June, I will be bringing almonds or dark chocolate.
  • shani251
    shani251 Posts: 145 Member
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    when i give blood, they usually let me have a couple of cans of low sodium V8 instead of the high carb stuff.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
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    I just eat the free candy and enjoy it
  • bashiera
    bashiera Posts: 140 Member
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    You should probably just eat something with sugar in it and count the calories. Your total blood volume is dropped, which can result in light headedness as well as getting something a little carby in you helps. So, eat the cookies and the juice, make it work in your daily calories. Besides, it's a once every 8 week thing, those cookies and apple juice won't hurt you severely. If you don't like them, bring fruit and a pb+j sandwich. I'm a nurse and I've done phlebotomy for blood drives, and we've had the people who refuse the snacks. They often feel pretty crappy afterwards without eating or drinking anything, so I highly advise getting something in you afterwards. Also, be sure to drink plenty of fluids a day before and that day, and avoid fatty foods as the fat can interfere with some of the blood tests after you donate.
  • afigueroa_pr
    afigueroa_pr Posts: 344
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    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!!
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
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    Don't forget to give yourself about 650 calories from the donation
  • bashiera
    bashiera Posts: 140 Member
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    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!!

    What they said ^!
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
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    When I gave blood last week, I sat for about a minute, guzzled a bottle of water, and left without eating any snacks. Now if I had taken a header in the parking lot, I would have felt stupid, but I felt completely fine and have never had an issue after (or during) giving blood. I also take relatively much less time to actually complete the donation (but not sure how that factors into all this).
  • fionat29
    fionat29 Posts: 717 Member
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    In England we only have really boring snacks like potato chips or cookies and I never bother to have any. Of more interest to me is the above poster who says to count 650 calories for the blood loss, really?? Who calculated that? Lol!!
  • ChristySeeksBalance
    ChristySeeksBalance Posts: 43 Member
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    The only reason I give blood is for the free Nutter Butters. If I couldn't eat them any more I'd probably quit going.
  • fittertanme
    fittertanme Posts: 259 Member
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    I dont think that if you have a pack that it will cause you any problems as you have given blood and need to build up again so dot worry you can get back to were you want to the next day and remember that your blood has saved many lives so well done
  • tabulator32
    tabulator32 Posts: 701 Member
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    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:
  • SelkieDiver
    SelkieDiver Posts: 260 Member
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    Last time I arranged my donation appointment so I could eat lunch about 30 minutes prior to going. Had an apple afterward, along with a small cup of orange juice and then lots of water.
  • mom2mozart
    mom2mozart Posts: 307 Member
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    This is an exerpt from an article I read:

    "Blood contains proteins totaling 33-38 grams per pint, says Lora Sporny, Columbia University professor of nutrition and education. At four calories per gram, this translates to 132-152 calories, plus a small number expended by the liver to generate plasma components. Beyond the roughly 150 calories of glucose, triglycerides, amino acids and proteins, whole blood contains red and white blood cells and platelets, all generated within bone marrow. Based on a review of the scientific literature, one can safely conclude "to replace a pint of donated whole blood, your Parma reader will likely use at least 350-400 calories, or about the number in half a slice of The Cheesecake Factory's Original Cheesecake. So tell him to go ahead and enjoy a thin piece," Sporny says."
  • JustBreathSB
    JustBreathSB Posts: 103 Member
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    After I donate blood I usually have a glass of apple juice and a package of cookies. I figure having this one crappy snack once every 8 weeks isn't going to hurt me. It's not like I'm snacking on cookies everyday. I don't trip on it, ever.

    And I never ever work out on donation days.
  • SlideboyxBrian
    SlideboyxBrian Posts: 40 Member
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    I give Plasma every two weeks and have water during and post donation. I have the cheese and cracker and keep the small chocolates for my kids when I get home.
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
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    In England we only have really boring snacks like potato chips or cookies and I never bother to have any. Of more interest to me is the above poster who says to count 650 calories for the blood loss, really?? Who calculated that? Lol!!

    Same way breastfeeding burn calories?. It is not burning calories per say it just take energy for your body to replenish the blood you lost
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
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    I don't log when I donate blood.

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