I’ll admit up front that this post is just a thinly veiled attempt to try and get more people to donate blood, plasma or platelets. It’s National Blood Donor Week, so why not give it a shot?

Here are some quick stats: one in three Australians will need blood during their lifetime but only one in 30 donates regularly. Some 29,000 donations are needed every week. The Red Cross says that more than 58 per cent of the population or around 10 million people are eligible to donate.

Finally, a single blood donation can help save up to three lives. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t do anything else that directly helps other people in such a critical way.

There are a few reasons why you might not be able to donate blood. However, if all that’s stopping you is a fear of needles, know that you’re not alone. I feel like pretty much everyone hates needles (some more than others, obviously) but that shouldn’t stop you from doing something good.

The Red Cross has some handy tips for helping to relax when donating. I’ve just sort of become used to it over time, but I still can’t look when the needle goes in. Everyone is different though.

If you can, head to the Lifeblood website and book in an appointment. You can donate blood every 12 weeks, or plasma or platelets every two weeks. If you’re not sure which to choose, read this. And if you already donate, good for you!

Anyway, now to the point of this post: the best snacks when you donate blood.

5. Fresh fruit

This is a basic thing to start the list with, but have you seen the price of fruit lately? Being able to chomp down on an apple or banana is basically a luxury at this point. Getting some free fruit is a great perk of donating, and it’s also likely the healthiest snack option available as well.

4. Flavoured milk

If you’re as big a fan of choccy milk as I am, then you’ll be pretty happy with the drink selection here. Along with a tasty iced chocolate flavoured Nippy’s, my local donor centre also has iced coffee, strawberry and honeycomb. There are plenty of other drink options if you’re not a milk fan too.

3. Chips

Sometimes a salty snack is all you’re looking for. When that’s the case, you have options here. There’s usually a couple flavours of chips (I typically see plain and honey soy chicken) in lunchbox-style mini bags along with the chip-adjacent pretzels and salted popcorn.

2. Party pies and sausage rolls

Maybe the mini bags of chips won’t make you nostalgic, but surely the party pies and sausage rolls in the warmer on the counter will take you back to the days of school lunches and sports canteens. They won’t win any prizes, sure, but they’re tasty all the same.

1. Biscuits

This may be a controversial number one, but I personally find a nice pack of biscuits to be the perfect snack after donating (and after a sausage roll or two). My go-to is the Arnott’s twin pack with a scotch finger and a shortbread cream, the true king and queen of the assorted biscuits.

Go donate blood!

Okay, one last time. If you can, and you don’t already donate, go book in an appointment today.