Cookie Policy
Last updated: September 30, 2026
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.
2. How We Use Cookies
MakeMealPlan uses a small number of essential cookies to make the website work. With your permission we also use analytics cookies. Those stay off until you choose to allow them, and you can change your mind at any time.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies (Required)
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off.
PHP Session Cookie
Purpose: Maintains your session state
Duration: Session (deleted when browser closes)
Login Cookie (mmp_remember)
Purpose: Keeps you signed in after you close your browser. Set only when you log in, removed when you log out
Duration: 30 days, renewed each time you visit
Cookie choice (mmp_consent)
Purpose: Remembers your answer in the cookie banner so we do not ask on every page
Duration: 6 months
Analytics Cookies (Optional)
Off by default. They are only set if you allow them, and they help us understand how the site is used so we can improve it.
Google Analytics (Google LLC)
Cookies: _ga, _ga_<container ID>
Purpose: Counts visits and shows which pages are used, in aggregate
Duration: Up to 2 years
Microsoft Clarity (Microsoft Corporation)
Cookies: _clck, _clsk, CLID, MUID and related
Purpose: Anonymised session replays and heatmaps that show us where pages are confusing
Duration: From minutes up to about 1 year
Names and durations are set by the providers and can change. If you do not allow analytics, none of the optional cookies above are set and their scripts are not loaded. We do not use advertising cookies or social media tracking cookies. If that ever changes, we will ask you first.
4. Local Storage
In addition to cookies, we use browser Local Storage for:
-
Meal Plan Quiz Progress
Keeps your quiz answers and in-progress plan on your device so you don't lose them. Cleared when you log out
-
Dashboard View
Remembers which day of your plan you were viewing
5. Session Security
Our session cookies are configured with the following security measures:
- HttpOnly: Cannot be accessed by JavaScript, protecting against XSS attacks
- Secure: Only transmitted over HTTPS (when available)
- SameSite: Lax: Not sent with cross-site form posts, protecting against cross-site request forgery (CSRF)
- Short-lived session: The session cookie is deleted when you close your browser
- Revocable login: The login cookie is deleted when you log out, and we store only a scrambled (hashed) copy of it
6. How to Control Cookies
On This Site
Use the cookie banner, or the “Cookie settings” link in the footer of any page, to allow or refuse analytics cookies at any time. If you withdraw a choice, we remove the cookies we set on this site and stop loading those scripts. Cookies that Google or Microsoft set on their own domains can only be removed in your browser settings.
Browser Settings
You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Here's how:
Google Chrome
Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
Mozilla Firefox
Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
Safari
Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
Microsoft Edge
Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies
Note:
If you block or delete essential cookies, some features of MakeMealPlan may not function correctly, including the meal plan generator.
7. Third-Party Cookies
Only if you allow analytics, these companies set cookies through our site:
- Google (Google Analytics)
- Microsoft (Clarity)
We also load files from content delivery networks. We use them to deliver fonts, icons and styles:
- fonts.googleapis.com (Google Fonts)
- cdnjs.cloudflare.com (Font Awesome icons, libraries)
8. Data Processing
Important: We do NOT store your meal planning data (age, weight, dietary preferences, etc.) in cookies or anywhere else on our servers. All meal plan generation is done in real-time, and your data is immediately discarded after processing.
9. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
Email: support@makemealplan.com
Summary
MakeMealPlan always uses a few essential cookies: a session cookie, a login cookie if you sign in, and one that remembers your cookie choice. Analytics cookies (Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity) are optional and stay off unless you allow them. We do not use advertising cookies. You can change your choice at any time from “Cookie settings” in the footer.
Cookie FAQ
Do I have to accept cookies to use MakeMealPlan?
No. You only need the essential cookies: the session cookie, which keeps the site working while you build a plan, and the login cookie if you sign in. Analytics cookies are optional: choose “Only essential” in the banner and the site works the same. If your browser blocks the essential cookie, the meal plan generator may not save your progress between steps.
Will deleting cookies remove my meal plans?
No, because we don’t store your meal plans in cookies or on our servers. Plans are generated in real time and discarded after you download them, so clearing cookies only resets your session — it never deletes saved data, because there is none to delete.
What is the difference between cookies and Local Storage here?
The session and login cookies keep the website working and keep you signed in. Local Storage only keeps your quiz progress and dashboard view on your device. Neither is shared with third parties or used to identify you across other websites.
Do the CDN providers track me?
The CDNs we load fonts, icons, and styles from may set their own functional cookies to serve files faster. These exist purely for performance and content delivery — they do not build a profile of you or collect personal information through our site.