Would blood in stool present as solid, light red, very small pieces that you can pick out? or would you think food?

That's food: Blood appears as bright red or black. The latter is transformed blood high up in GI tract that has reached the distal bowel. Bright red blood is from an actively bleeding site such as a fissure, internal hemorrhoid or from a colonic lesion in the distal left colon above rectum that has bleed due to irritation from formed stool. Light red pieces are from injested material.