Cookie Policy
Effective Date: January 2024
About Our Cookie Use
Balanced Meal Consult uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on balancedmealconsult.info to enhance your browsing experience, understand how you interact with our editorial content, and improve our website functionality. This policy explains what cookies are, why we use them, and how you can manage your cookie preferences.
The information on this site is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when you visit a website. They contain information about your browsing activity and preferences, and are sent back to the website on subsequent visits.
Cookies serve various purposes, including remembering login information, tracking website performance, personalizing content recommendations, and analyzing user behavior to improve our editorial platform.
Types of Cookies We Use
Essential / Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are required for the website to function properly. They enable you to navigate the site and use essential features.
- Session management
- Security and fraud prevention
- Content delivery and load balancing
- User preference storage (language, accessibility settings)
Status: Cannot be disabled
Performance & Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors use our editorial content, which articles are most popular, and how the website performs.
- Page view tracking and article engagement
- Traffic source analysis
- Bounce rate and session duration measurement
- Website error identification and troubleshooting
Status: Can be disabled
Functional Cookies
These cookies remember your choices to provide a more personalized browsing experience.
- Saved reading preferences and bookmarks
- Theme preferences (light/dark mode)
- Comment and engagement history
- Search and filter preferences
Status: Can be disabled
Advertising & Tracking Cookies
These cookies are used by third-party advertising partners to track your interests across websites and display relevant content recommendations.
- Interest and behavior profiling
- Cross-site tracking for content recommendations
- Ad performance measurement
- Audience segmentation for editorial insights
Status: Can be disabled
How We Use Cookies
Website Functionality
Ensuring the site works correctly, pages load properly, and your session remains active.
Content Analysis & Improvement
Understanding which articles resonate with readers, identifying trending topics, and enhancing editorial quality.
Personalization
Remembering your preferences and delivering content tailored to your interests in nutrition and wellness.
Security & Fraud Prevention
Detecting and preventing unauthorized access, spam, and malicious activities.
Third-Party Services
Integrating with analytics platforms and content delivery networks to optimize your reading experience.
Detailed Cookie List
| Cookie Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHPSESSID | Essential | Session management and user login authentication | Session |
| _ga | Analytics | Google Analytics - tracks unique user visits | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Analytics | Google Analytics - traffic source and campaign tracking | 2 years |
| _gid | Analytics | Google Analytics - identifies users for session reporting | 24 hours |
| user_preferences | Functional | Stores user theme, language, and layout preferences | 1 year |
| reading_history | Functional | Records recently viewed articles for personalized recommendations | 90 days |
| bmc_consent | Essential | Stores your cookie consent preferences | 1 year |
| ads_tracking | Advertising | Third-party ad networks - audience profiling and interest targeting | 6 months |
| utm_* | Analytics | Tracks marketing campaign sources and performance | Session |
| csrf_token | Essential | Security - prevents cross-site request forgery attacks | Session |
Managing Your Cookies
Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our site, a cookie consent banner appears. You can accept all cookies, decline non-essential cookies, or customize your preferences. Your choice is saved and can be modified at any time.
Browser Controls
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:
- Block all cookies - Some site features may not work properly
- Block third-party cookies - Limits cross-site tracking
- Clear cookies - Delete existing cookies stored on your device
- Set cookie preferences per site - Allow cookies for trusted sites only
For instructions, search " manage cookies" in your browser's help menu.
Disabling Essential Cookies
We strongly recommend keeping essential cookies enabled. Disabling them may prevent proper website functionality, including login, page navigation, and content delivery.
Do Not Track (DNT) Signals
Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" feature. While we recognize this signal, third-party advertising partners may not honor it. You can disable advertising cookies in our consent banner for more direct control.
Third-Party Cookies
Our website integrates with third-party services that set their own cookies:
Google Analytics
Analyzes website traffic and user engagement. Google's Privacy Policy
Advertising Networks
Third-party ad networks track user interests for content recommendations and targeted advertising. You can opt-out through the IAB's Your Online Choices platform.
Content Delivery Networks (CDN)
These services optimize article loading, image delivery, and website performance across global locations.
These third parties may use cookies to track your activity across multiple websites. Review their privacy policies to understand their practices.
Legal Compliance
This cookie policy complies with applicable data protection and privacy regulations, including:
- GDPR (EU) - General Data Protection Regulation for European users
- CCPA (California) - California Consumer Privacy Act requirements
- ePrivacy Directive - Rules for electronic communications and tracking
- German Data Protection Laws - BDSG and related regulations (applicable to our Stuttgart location)
We obtain explicit consent before storing non-essential cookies and provide transparent information about our practices.
Policy Updates
We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect changes in technology, regulations, or our editorial practices. The "Effective Date" at the top indicates the last update. Please review this policy regularly for any modifications.
Contact Our Editorial Team
If you have questions about our cookie practices or how we use data, please contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Address: Hauptstraße 124, Stuttgart, Germany
Domain: balancedmealconsult.info
Related Resources
For more information, see our other policies:
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balancedmealconsult.info | Hauptstraße 124, Stuttgart, Germany