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6 Sugar-Free Ways to Sweeten Your Iced Coffee

By U.S. News & World Report

For most of my adult life, I didn’t drink coffee; let alone, enjoy it. I grew up with parents who drank more tea than coffee, and I even managed to make it through college without relying on caffeine to get me through study sessions. But when I started my first full-time job, the early mornings necessitated caffeine. Plus, I got free coffee at work — who can say no that?

The only problem? I hated the taste. So I fell back on sugar, drinking large mocha lattes heavily sweetened with chocolate syrup or gulping drip coffee only after adding sugar by the spoonful. As my caffeine habit grew, so too did my sugar intake. I knew I had to find a better way to sweeten my coffee .

[See: These Healthy Seasonings Are Tasty Substitutes for Sugar and Salt.]

Caffeine has numerous health benefits. Not only does it keep us awake, but it also boosts our memory and helps us concentrate, focus and quickly react. It can protect against degenerative brain diseases and age-related cognitive decline. People who drink coffee show lower risks of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and depression. Coffee is also used to boost sports performance; people who drink coffee before a workout report better endurance and muscle strength, and can burn more calories.

But by adding a few spoonfuls of sugar to your morning cup of joe, you turn that healthy drink into something more harmful. While a little sugar is OK, most of us are taking in way more than we need. The average adult consumes 20 teaspoons of added sugar per day, which is two to three times the recommended amount. It’s easy to see why, since added sugar is in many foods that don’t taste sweet, such as salad dressings, condiments, nut butter, sauces and bread. Too much of the sweet stuff can cause weight gain, premature aging, Type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and heart disease.

The good news is you can use many sugar alternatives to sweeten coffee and particularly, iced coffee, as the weather begins to call for it. For me, slowly decreasing the amount of sugar I added to my coffee drinks worked. Going cold turkey can be a shock to your taste buds, so it helps to start slow. As you cut back on the sugar, try these naturally sweet alternatives to flavor your iced coffee instead:

1. Cinnamon

Stir this sweet spice into your brewed iced coffee or, if you’re brewing it at home, add the cinnamon directly to your coffee grounds. Use 1 tablespoon of cinnamon for every 4 tablespoons of grounds and make your own flavored coffee — no sweetener required.

[See: The Best Spices for Your Health.]

2. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

If you’re a chocolate lover like me, this sweet hack is for you. Skip sweetened chocolate syrup or sugary hot chocolate mix and use a spoonful of unsweetened cocoa powder instead. Like the cinnamon, you can add it to your coffee grounds before brewing (1 tablespoon per cup of coffee) or stir it right into your brewed coffee, latte or espresso. An added bonus: A tablespoon of cocoa powder will add 2 grams of fiber and essential antioxidants to your coffee.

3. Extracts

A few drops of a naturally-sweet extract is one of my favorite ways to flavor foods and beverages while keeping them sugar-free. Extracts mix well with iced coffee — try a few drops of pure vanilla, almond or hazelnut extract in place of sugar.

4. Unsweetened Vanilla Almond or Soy Milk

While many vanilla non-dairy milks have sugar added, you can find unsweetened versions of vanilla almond and soy milk. These drinks have a hint of vanilla flavor that can naturally sweeten your iced coffee drink.

5. Coconut Milk

This non-dairy milk provides a touch of coconut flavor to your morning cup of iced coffee. Mix it with a little vanilla extract to make a homemade coffee creamer (without all the sugar or additives).

[See: Which Type of Milk Is Healthiest?]

6. Coconut Cream

This cream, from a can of full-fat coconut milk, adds a touch of sweetness and a creamy consistency to your standard iced coffee. Use it along with cinnamon for a fantastic drink.

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6 Sugar-Free Ways to Sweeten Your Iced Coffee 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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