After giving blood it is advisable for donors to sit for a while and have a drink and a snack. When I first gave blood as a teenager…many, many years ago…the refreshment table had a plate of biscuits from an assortment tin. Now there is a vast array of tasty treats. So, which are the most popular? Well, this morning before the session began I said that orange clubs will always be a clear winner….I decided to see if this was true with the Ashton donors. I was going to ask as many people as I could, “What is their first choice of snack. “
The first donor I saw was Eva and she chose the Biscoff biscuit. Eva said she would be happy to have her photo taken with her favourite snack.
I was very lucky that Eva let me take this photo. When her needle was in and there was no escape we had a good old chin wag. I then had a flash of inspiration for a great photo….”You know that film where the woman lies naked covered in rose petals, we could get you on the floor and cover you in Biscoff biscuits.” Even with her mask on I could see the look of horror ha ha ha. Fortunately, a ‘Biscoff smile’ was more appealing. (Now the idea for that photo is in my head I shall have to try it somehow and somewhere!)
Next up was Deborah, she didn’t have to think twice about her favourite snack…ginger nuts!
I didn’t think Deborah would fancy the American Beauty style photo so I suggested she use use two packets as eyes…if you do that you’ve touched both so you get double the snack. That sold it, oh and the fact that Deborah told me it would be fitting to use them as eyes as she was an optician!
So, were orange clubs a favourite? Well, not in Ashton. I didn’t have the chance to ask every donor as I had to do some work (sometimes putting needles in just gets in the way of having a little fun), but I managed to speak to about half the donors who came in. To everyone’s shock Biscoff biscuits took an early lead closely followed by mini cheddars. I was amazed, if I had a pound for the number of times I’d heard a donor say, “I only come for the orange clubs,” then I would be a wealthy woman.
One lady did tell me that she was a vegan and the Biscoff biscuit was her only option. She was the only person who mentioned any dietary specifications to me though. Surely chocolate was a bigger temptation than Biscoff. I kept asking and as the afternoon progressed Kit Kats jumped ahead. A vicar came to donate, he was resplendent in his green and red harlequin shirt and said it had to be Kit Kats as they were made in York and he was going to retire there. A valid reason, I suppose, but that wouldn’t swing it for many people.
As Kit Kats smugly stuck their two fingers up at the Biscoff they failed to see mint clubs creeping up the table. Chocolate in its wafery, orange or minty form was definitely the most popular snack in the end. The results were:
Mini Cheddars 8️⃣
Salted crisps 4️⃣
Cheese crisps 3️⃣
Ginger nuts 2️⃣
Shortbread 2️⃣
Kit Kat 9️⃣
Orange club 6️⃣
Mint club 9️⃣
Digestives 1️⃣
Custard creams 2️⃣
Bourbons 3️⃣
Biscoff 6️⃣
Fruit shortcake 0️⃣
So, the donors of Ashton favour chocolate or a savoury snack, mini cheddars. I was proved wrong then that orange clubs would wipe the floor with everything else on the table. Next week I am in Wythenshawe….I will indulge in a little survey there. I still think orange clubs will race ahead…..🤣
need2bleed 