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The 40 Easiest Diets to Follow

By U.S. News & World Report

40 diets ranked by how well each one helps dieters stay on board

Hard work is always going to be part of the diet equation, but some plans and approaches are easier to follow than others. U.S. News’ Easiest Diets to Follow list ranks 40 popular diets. The highest scorers are typically tasty, flexible, convenient and filling, while those at the bottom of the pack may emphasize unfamiliar ingredients or cut out entire food groups.

Here’s a look at the rankings, along with pros and cons for each diet.

#1 Mediterranean Diet

Pro: Nutritionally sound

Pro: Diverse foods and flavors

Con: Lots of grunt work

Con: Moderately pricey

[See: Mediterranean Diet photos.]

#2 (tie) Weight Watchers Diet

Pro: Eat what you want; no foods off-limits

Pro: Flexibility to shape your own diet

Con: Tedious point-tallying

Con: Pricey

[See: Weight Watchers menu.]

#2 (tie) Flexitarian Diet

Pro: Flexible

Pro: Lots of tasty recipes

Con: Emphasis on home-cooking

Con: Might be tough if you don’t like fruits and veggies

[See: Flexitarian Diet menu.]

#4 DASH Diet

Pro: Heart healthy

Pro: Nutritionally sound

Con: Lots of grunt work

Con: Somewhat pricey

[See: DASH Diet menu.]

#5 MIND Diet

Pro: Blends two proven healthy diets

Pro: May boost brain power

Con: Details not fleshed out

Con: Recipes, resources lacking

[See: MIND Diet nutrition.]

#6 The Fertility Diet

Pro: Promotes fertility

Pro: Encourages healthy pregnancy

Con: Discouraged for those with blocked fallopian tubes

Con: It’s strictly for women

[See: Fertility Diet nutrition.]

#7 (tie) Volumetrics Diet

Pro: Filling

Pro: Nothing off limits

Con: Lengthy meal preparation

Con: Fruit-veggie-and-soup burnout possible

[See: Volumetrics photos.]

#7 (tie) Jenny Craig Diet

Pro: No guesswork

Pro: Prepackaged meals, delivered

Con: Home-cooked and restaurant meals largely off-limits

Con: Budget-buster

[See: Jenny Craig recipes.]

#7 (tie) Mayo Clinic Diet

Pro: Nutritionally sound

Pro: You shape your diet

Con: Lots of grunt work

Con: Somewhat pricey

[See: Mayo Clinic Diet recipes.]

#10 TLC Diet

Pro: Heart healthy

Pro: Not a fad diet; government endorsed

Con: On your own

Con: Must decode nutrition labels

[See: TLC Diet photos.]

#11 Flat Belly Diet

Pro: Tasty menu recipes

Pro: Abundant guidance and resources

Con: Skimpy evidence that “good” fats are the magic bullet

Con: Fewer days of menus than other plans

[See: Flat Belly Diet menu.]

#12 (tie) SlimFast Diet

Pro: Convenient — grab and go

Pro: No math or guesswork

Con: Little “real” food

Con: Same old, same old, meal after meal

[See: SlimFast Diet reviews.]

#12 (tie) South Beach Diet

Pro: Yes to snacks and dessert

Pro: No calorie-counting

Con: Could seem awfully restrictive at first

Con: Lots of time prepping and cooking meals

[See: South Beach recipes.]

#12 (tie) Vegetarian Diet

Pro: Nutritionally sound

Pro: Heart healthy (if you plan it right)

Con: Might miss the meat

Con: Can be lots of work

[See: Vegetarian Diet nutrition.]

#12 (tie) Abs Diet

Pro: Indulging allowed

Pro: Frequent meals and snacks

Con: Lack of specific research

Con: Fewer days of menus than other plans

[See: Abs Diet photos.]

#12 (tie) Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Pro: Nutritionally sound

Pro: You shape your diet

Con: Moderately pricey

Con: Can be lots of work

[See: Anti-Inflammatory Diet nutrition.]

#17 Nutrisystem Diet

Pro: Heat and eat

Pro: No foods off limits (not even carbs)

Con: Comeback of the TV dinner

Con: Eating out is limited

[See: Nutrisystem menu.]

#18 (tie) HMR Program

Pro: Meals delivered to you

Pro: Phased approach for quick start on weight loss

Con: Eating out limited

Con: Shakes could get humdrum

[See: HMR Program reviews.]

#18 (tie) Spark Solution Diet

Pro: Nutritionally sound

Pro: Fitness guidance

Con: Difficult to dine out

Con: Rigid daily guidelines

[See: Spark Solution reviews.]

#18 (tie) Traditional Asian Diet

Pro: Diverse foods and flavors

Pro: Filling

Con: Rice-and-noodle burnout possible

Con: Few guiding resources

[See: Traditional Asian Diet menu.]

#21 (tie) Biggest Loser Diet

Pro: Solid nutrition

Pro: No foods off limits

Con: Lots of grunt work

Con: Somewhat pricey

[See: Biggest Loser Diet reviews.]

#21 (tie) Medifast Diet

Pro: Nutritionally sound

Pro: No counting carbs, points or calories

Con: Powdered, just-add-water food

Con: Might be tough to stick with

[See: Medifast Diet nutrition.]

#23 Zone Diet

Pro: All foods welcome

Pro: Frequent meals and snacks

Con: Tedious portioning

Con: Limited daily calories

[See: Zone Diet reviews.]

#24 (tie) Ornish Diet

Pro: Solid nutritionally

Pro: Heart-happy

Con: Not exactly easy

Con: Not exactly cheap

[See: Ornish Diet menu.]

#24 (tie) The Fast Diet

Pro: Few rules to keep track of

Pro: Dieting only two days a week

Con: Unsafe for some people

Con: Hunger pangs likely

[See: Fast Diet menu.]

#24 (tie) Glycemic-Index Diet

Pro: Menu flexibility

Pro: Hampers hunger

Con: Little guidance, save for carbs

Con: Have to do homework

[See: Glycemic-Index Diet reviews.]

#24 (tie) Acid Alkaline Diet

Pro: Heavy on fresh produce

Pro: Filling

Con: Lots of rules to remember

Con: Little research to back it up

[See: Acid Alkaline Diet reviews.]

#28 Supercharged Hormone Diet

Pro: Restores hormonal health and metabolic function

Pro: Long-lasting effects

Con: Starts with a rigorous two-week detox

Con: Somewhat pricey

[See: Supercharged Hormone Diet recipes.]

#29 (tie) Atkins Diet

Pro: Fatty food guilt-free

Pro: Quick weight loss

Con: Goodbye to sweets and bread

Con: More calorie-restricted than you might think

[See: Atkins recipes.]

#29 (tie) Paleo Diet

Pro: Carnivore approved

Pro: Very low in sodium

Con: Goodbye to grains and dairy

Con: Pricey

[See: Paleo Diet reviews.]

#31 (tie) Nutritarian Diet

Pro: Health and longevity focus

Pro: No calorie-counting

Con: Salads could turn tiresome

Con: Healing claims may overreach

[See: Nutritarian Diet nutrition.]

#31 (tie) Macrobiotic Diet

Pro: “Real” food emphasized

Pro: Filling

Con: Lots of grunt work

Con: Somewhat pricey

[See: Macrobiotic Diet photos.]

#33 (tie) Engine 2 Diet

Pro: Health and environmental benefits

Pro: No calorie-counting

Con: Complete lifestyle overhaul

Con: Considerable meal planning and prep

[See: Engine 2 Diet nutrition.]

#33 (tie) Eco-Atkins Diet

Pro: Less restrictive than Atkins

Pro: Filling; rich in high-fiber foods

Con: Little guidance

Con: Nothing for carnivores

[See: Eco-Atkins photos.]

#33 (tie) Body Reset Diet

Pro: Short-term program

Pro: Should see results quickly

Con: Smoothies could get boring

Con: Weight loss may not last

[See: Body Reset Diet menu.]

#36 (tie) Vegan Diet

Pro: Fiber-rich and filling

Pro: Health and environmental benefits

Con: Really restrictive

Con: Can be lots of work

[See: Vegan Diet recipes.]

#36 (tie) Dukan Diet

Pro: All-you-can-eat

Pro: Filling

Con: Lots of rules

Con: Could fall short nutritionally

[See: Dukan Diet nutrition.]

#38 (tie) Keto Diet

Pro: Fatty foods embraced

Pro: No calorie-counting

Con: Strict carb limits

Con: Can seem extreme

[See: Keto Diet nutrition.]

#38 (tie) Whole30 Diet

Pro: Short term

Pro: No calorie-counting or exercise required

Con: Goodbye to grains, dairy, sugar, legumes and alcohol

Con: Only the highly committed and organized need apply

[See: Whole30 Diet nutrition.]

#40 Raw Food Diet

Pro: Fruits and veggies dominate the menu

Pro: Nearly guaranteed weight loss

Con: Tedious meal prep; equipment required

Con: Lots of rules

[See: Raw Food Diet menu.]

More from U.S. News

Best Diets of 2018

The 10 Best Exercises You Can Do for the Rest of Your Life

What Not to Say When Someone Loses Major Weight

The 40 Easiest Diets to Follow originally appeared on usnews.com

Update 01/03/18: This slideshow has been updated to reflect the latest ranking results.

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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