The Grammy award-winning artist, K. d. Lang, said it best. “Constant craving has always been…”

While Ms. Lang croons about the search for truth, those lyrics summarize exactly how you feel when it’s late afternoon, you’re starving… but you’re on a diet, counting calories.

That’s when it’s time for “first aid food.”

Whether you’re at your desk, in the car or on the sidelines watching after-school sports, there are foods that will provide good nutrition without excessive calories, saving you from over-indulging when dinner time finally arrives.

Need ideas? Here are my first aid food suggestions for busy women:

The Soccer Mom

Pack a first aid food kit for your car — and keeping it stocked. There are lots of healthy snacks that will remain “car stable” yet energize you when hunger pangs start.

Here are the essentials of your first aid kit:

• Granola bars (preferably hard, not chocolate or candy coated)
• Small boxes of raisins or baggies filled with apricots or dates
• Small bags of unsalted pita or soy chips
• Zip-top baggie filled with unsalted almonds, walnuts, and peanuts
• Zip-tip baggie filled with low-fat, high-fiber cereal
• Bottled water
• Wet wipes

The Working Mom

Any of the above snacks can be kept in a desk drawer, but thanks to the refrigerator and a microwave at most offices, healthy snacking is made easier.

Here are the essentials of your first aid kit:

• Individual containers of unsweetened apple sauce (Sprinkle with cinnamon for added nutrients and flavor.)
• Soy nut butter or almond butter (Spread between squares of whole grain graham crackers.)
• Plain 0% Greek yogurt or part-skim ricotta cheese (Stir in cinnamon and sliced banana.)
• Packets of instant oatmeal
• Soy Crisps
• Ready-to-drink protein shakes
• Chicken salad made with light mayo or plain 0% Greek yogurt (Eat with apple slices.)

The Chef Mom

When you’re starving, it’s easy to eat while you cook, inevitably eating two dinners instead of one. When you’re that hungry, make yourself a little “appetizer,” and enjoy it while chopping veggies or stirring pasta.

Here are the essentials of your first aid kit:

• Deviled eggs made with light mayo and/or mustard. (Add ingredients like diced red peppers, olives, shrimp and crabmeat for variety).
• Ready-to-eat baby carrots, broccoli and cauliflower with low-fat ranch dressing and a few low-fat crackers
• Some black olives, a small piece of hard Parmesan cheese, and a little “heel” of bread with olive oil
• Spinach dip made with plain 0% Greek yogurt instead of sour cream (Eat with with whole grain crackers)
• Steamed Edamame
• Cubed low-fat cheese with a serving of crackers and a glass of sparkling water with lime
• Pear slices with a dab of goat cheese and a drizzle of honey