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7 Diabetes-Friendly Holiday Desserts

By U.S. News & World Report

This year, someone with diabetes will probably be sitting at your holiday table. After all, 9.3 percent of all U.S. adults have diabetes, and there’s about a 1 in 4 chance that grandma and grandpa are watching their blood sugar. So, when it comes to sweet treats, what exactly is diabetes-friendly?

According to Maria Rodriguez, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with the Mount Sinai Health System Diabetes Alliance, desserts should ideally contain no more than about 20 grams of carbs and 200 calories per serving. If they are high in protein and low in saturated fat, even better. How do you pull that off while keeping your whole family’s taste buds happy? Whip up one of these seven diabetes-friendly desserts.

[See: The Best Diets to Prevent and Manage Diabetes.]

1. “Everything” Dark Chocolate and Walnut Tartlets

With only 12 grams of carbs per serving, these tartlets take carb content low as it can possibly go. They’re ideal for virtually all dark chocolate lovers, be they vegan, gluten-free, paleo or, of course, diabetic.

Full recipe courtesy of kaleishafetters.com

2. Vegan Pumpkin & Coconut Mousse

This mousse is just as much vegetable as it is dessert. Plus, all of the ingredients — including pumpkin, coconut cream and agave nectar — boast a low glycemic load.

Full recipe courtesy of terraskitchen.com

[See: The 38 Easiest Diets to Follow: in Pictures.]

3. Healthy Peanut Butter Power Cookies

As if peanut butter weren’t great enough all on its own, old-fashioned oats, flaxseed and almond flour boost these cookies’ health factor even higher.

Full recipe courtesy of fannetasticfood.com

4. Apple Ginger Phyllo Nests

Coming in at only 50 calories per serving, these cute little nests are filled with wholesome ingredients like Greek yogurt, granny smith apples, tart cherries, ginger and vanilla.

Full recipe courtesy of appforhealth.com

5. Pumpkin Cranberry Harvest Parfait

How can whipped topping fit into a diabetes-friendly eating plan? By making it with cashew cream, coconut oil, fresh ginger and just a touch of honey. Your guests will be shocked!

Full recipe courtesy of betsysbest.com

[See: The 12 Best Diets for Your Heart.]

6. Festive Holiday Cranberry Greek Yogurt Bark

Seriously, what can’t you do with Greek yogurt? This recipe, packed with 5 grams of protein per serving, sits steady at a mere 60 calories and 6 grams of carbs. ‘Tis the season to get creative!

Full recipe courtesy of bistroMD.com

7. No-Bake Chocolate Brownies

Not only do these brownies contain zero added sugar (thanks to pitted dates!), they are loaded with protein and healthy unsaturated fatty acids.

Full recipe courtesy of youtube.com

More from U.S. News

Got Diabetes? Why You Must Protect Your Feet

How to Cope With Gestational Diabetes

7 Reasons to Choose a Plant-Based Diet

7 Diabetes-Friendly Holiday Desserts originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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