Healthy snacks that boost metabolism aren't going to just magically appear on your desk, in your kitchen or car, or during times when your energy and will- power are way down. You have to plan ahead or know what to look for if you need to buy something. The 3 strategies below are great for people at home, at work, or on the go.

Healthy snacks at home can be a challenge if you have little ones around or other relatives who tend to keep junk food around. If you don't plan ahead it's too easy to reach for the junk and not eat healthy. Best healthy snack strategy is preparing containers of cut up goodies on weekends. Fill small containers with grapes, carrot sticks, low fat cheese sticks, cherry tomatoes, low fat turkey slices, cottage cheese, peach slices, apples slices and keep almonds, whole grain crackers, and kashi bars near by. If you package things together it's easier to pull out one container, grab a bit of everything that appeals to you then munch away. Your body will work hard to digest all this unprocessed food and you'll save big time calories.

Healthy snacks at work are not appealing when everybody else is munching on unhealthy stuff or the snack cart guy comes buy, or even worst the donut tray is free. You may want to plan ahead but often forget or run out of time. Best healthy snack strategy is smart vending machine tactics. The Abs Diet Eat Right Every Time Guide recommends "a low fat chocolate milk along with a fat free microwave popcorn and 1 ounce bag of peanuts. This meal has about 50% less calories and provides 3 times the protein and twice the fiber" than most other choices in there. You can also rely on a frozen dinner that is high in protein and somewhere in the 600 mg sodium range.

Healthy snacks on the go are a bit more challenging because it means you have to pack a cooler with ice pack or stop and get something. Most people think about packing something to go but forget so try making better choices until you make packing your snacks a habit. Best healthy snack strategy is to plan a pit stop where you can get a healthy snack. If you have a convenience store on the way a balance bar and cinnamon hot tea is a great option. If there's a smoothie place on the way try a protein berry workout with soy protein. If you're at a bagel place try a spinach bagel with light veggie cream cheese and water. If you're at the drive thru order a grilled chicken sandwich plus side salad and toss out one bun. If you're at a sandwich shop get a small roast beef sub with tons of veggies and a splash of oil and vinegar.

Get more great tips on what to eat on the go from: What to Eat When You're Eating Out