Your Diet And Your Blood Donation Can Make A Difference

You can help us make your donation successful by following some simple dietary guidelines relative to fatty foods.

Why should I eat a low fat meal before donating?
By eating low fat meals the day before you donate and on the day of donation, you can help us obtain a better blood sample for testing.

Donors who eat high fat foods the day before donation and on the day of donation may have an increased amount of lipids (fat) circulating in their blood stream. Each blood sample must be evaluated prior to testing. If the sample is extremely lipemic (having an abnormally large amount of lipids), it cannot be tested, and consequently, the donation cannot be transfused.

 
LOW FAT FOODS WHAT TO AVOID
Bread, Cereal, Rice and Pasta
Whole- grain with jelly or honey Bread with margarine or butter
Angel Food Cake, plain Granola cereals/ Granola bars
Gingersnap cookies, Vanilla wafers, graham crackers Instant cereals with cream
Hot and Cold cereals are usually low Fried Snacks - potato chips, tortilla chips and corn chips
Baked or low fat potato chips and tortilla chips Donuts, Sweet Rolls and Muffins
Baked crackers or pretzels Pound cake, layered cake, cheese cake
  Cookies with cream fillings or chocolate
 
LOW FAT FOODS WHAT TO AVOID
Vegetables and Fruits
Fruit and vegetables, plain or with herbs and yogurt Fruit and vegetables with margarine, butter, mayonnaise or sour cream
Dry beans, peas and lentils French fries
 
LOW FAT FOODS WHAT TO AVOID
Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry beans, Eggs and Nuts
Loin or Round Beef and Veal - baked, broiled or roasted Meats with fat
Loin or Leg of Pork - baked, broiled or roasted Gravies and high-fat sauces
Skinless poultry - baked, broiled or roasted Goose and Duck
Chicken breasts Tuna packed in oil
Fish - poached, steamed, baked or broiled Bacon, sausage, pepperoni and bologna
Vegetarian hot dogs, hamburger and chicken nuggets Peanuts, etc.
  Tuna packed in water
 
LOW FAT FOODS WHAT TO AVOID
Milk, Yogurt and Cheese
Skim milk or buttermilk Whipped cream
Low fat/Skim cheeses Pudding made with whole milk
1% cottage cheese Ice creams - Soft-serve and regular ice creams are lower in fat than premium styles
Nonfat yogurt  
Skim sherbert  
 
LOW FAT FOODS WHAT TO AVOID
Other Foods
Hard candy or jelly candy Chocolate bars
Soups with broth Cream Soups