Cookies for Dinner (and Other Slip-ups That Aren't So Bad) on Yahoo! Health

Though we all try to make smart health choices daily, no one can be an angel 24/7. We're only human, which means skipping the gym now and then, or working late and munching a couple cookies for dinner instead of the plan: a nice piece of salmon. So it's good to know that while some missteps are risky, others aren't at all as sinful as you might suspect. Read on to see which health rebellions docs worry about, and which they don't.

Health rebellion: Gobbling cookies for dinner
Verdict: No biggie
Supper from the cookie jar? Hey, it happens—especially during Girl Scout Cookie season. If your other meals are low in sugar, fat and salt and high in fruit, veggies, fiber, whole grains and lean protein, scarfing a few cookies instead of your evening meal, even once a week, isn't a big deal. Have them with a glass of lowfat milk for calcium, and stop after a few (not the whole box!). Warning: With all respect to the Keebler elves, cookies offer nearly nada in the way of nutrition, so you may get the munchies an hour or two later. Instead of diving back into the cookie jar, have a low-calorie, filling snack such as carrots with 1/3 cup hummus. Don’t feel guilty; just try to eat healthy the next day. (Reach for one of these 30 healthy snacks the next time you get the munchies!)

Health rebellion: Taking your birth control pill at different times of the day
Verdict: No biggie
Docs usually advise popping your pill at the same time daily so you won’t forget a day—in most cases, you won't get pregnant if, say, 30 hours have passed since your last dose. However, if you skip two pills, take one each with your regular pills to play catch-up and use a backup birth control for the rest of the month, just in case. The exception: Mini-pills must be popped like clockwork because they don't always inhibit ovulation, only thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching an egg. Take yours at the same hour daily to avoid a surprise.

Health rebellion: Curtailing a workout, or skipping it completely
Verdict: No biggie
Slinking out of Spin class if you're wiped or even playing hooky from the gym once in a while won't harm your health; your body might even benefit from recouping. But if you need motivation to power through a cardio class—or get there in the first place—know that a half hour of movement five days a week will help you sleep better and lower your risk for depression, diabetes, cancer and more. Keep these rewards top of mind (or on top of your treadmill!), to reach the finish when you want to flake. Don't have a free 30-minute block for firming and burning? Break your sessions into three 10-minute spurts to reap the bennies even if you're perma-busy.

Health rebellion: Having too many drinks on a girls' night out
Verdict: You've been warned
If you tend to go overboard on the drinks, you've got plenty of company. Nearly 34 percent of 18- to 25-year-old women and about 13 percent of women ages 26 and older reported having five or more drinks in a night in the past month, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health by the Department of Health and Human Services. But, as Mom always said, just because something's popular doesn't mean it's smart. Tippling too much on a given night can make you more likely to have unprotected sex, be sexually assaulted, get alcohol poisoning or be involved in a car accident. Get sloshed on a regular basis and you're more likely to suffer liver and heart disease. Always give your keys to a designated driver, limit your libations to one per hour and stop at three to enjoy the occasional revel without regrets.

Health rebellion: Soaking up the rays on vacation
Verdict: Yikes!
It's understandable to want to feel the sun on your shoulders when you're on vacation, especially if you spend most of the year toiling in an office (I wish fluorescent lighting felt as sublime!). But even a few days of rays can ratchet up your risk for melanoma, which one in five people will be diagnosed with some form of the disease during their lifetime. You don't need to put the kibosh on beach vacations—just apply at least 1 full ounce of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher daily, reapply liberally and get your glow the safe way—from a bottle of fake tan or spray-on bronzer! For more advice on shielding yourself from America's most common cancer, read these survivors' stories.