When it comes to losing weight, it turns out the simple math of counting calories doesn’t always add up. Counting calories can be a useful tool for managing weight, but is trickier than it may seem. The quality of the calories matters because foods such as white breads, pastas and sugar are easily converted to usable energy and trigger our bodies to store calories. Some beans, whole grains and seeds resist easy conversion into usable energy and don’t trigger that same storage response. Nutritionists say diet quality is just as important as quantity, and possibly more.

Three Washoe County teachers are being honored with a national award from the White House for excellence in teaching.