Privacy Policy

📋 Information I Collect

Personal Information You Provide

When you interact with WholePlates, I may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including:

• Name and email address when subscribing to my newsletter
• Contact information when filling out contact forms
• Comments and feedback when leaving recipe reviews
• Account information if you create a user account

Automatically Collected Information

• Log data: IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs
• Cookies and tracking technologies: Information about your browsing behavior
• Device information: Device type, screen resolution, language preferences
• Usage data: Pages visited, time spent on site, links clicked

🎯 How I Use Your Information

I use the information I collect for the following purposes:

• To provide and improve services: Deliver content, respond to inquiries, and enhance user experience
• To send newsletters: Share new recipes, cooking tips, and updates (with your consent)
• To analyze website performance: Understand how visitors use the site and identify areas for improvement
• To personalize content: Recommend recipes based on your interests and preferences
• To prevent fraud: Detect and prevent malicious activity or security breaches
• To comply with legal obligations: Fulfill legal requirements and enforce my policies

🍪 Cookies & Tracking Technologies

WholePlates uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help me remember your preferences and analyze site traffic.

Types of Cookies Used

• Essential cookies: Required for the website to function properly
• Analytics cookies: Help me understand how visitors interact with the site (e.g., Google Analytics)
• Advertising cookies: Used to display relevant ads based on your interests
• Social media cookies: Enable sharing content on social platforms

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the website.

🤝 Third-Party Services

WholePlates uses third-party services to provide functionality and improve the user experience. These services may collect information about your visit:

• Google Analytics: Tracks website traffic and user behavior
• Email service providers: Mailchimp or similar for newsletter distribution
• Advertising networks: Google AdSense, Mediavine, or similar for displaying ads
• Social media platforms: Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram for social sharing
• Affiliate programs: Amazon Associates and other affiliate networks
• Comment systems: Disqus or native WordPress comments

These third parties have their own privacy policies, and I encourage you to review them. I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these external services.

📧 Email Communications

If you subscribe to my newsletter, I will send you periodic emails with:

• New recipes and cooking tips
• Exclusive content and updates
• Special offers from partners (only with your consent)

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any email or by contacting me at contact@wholeplates.com. I will never sell, rent, or share your email address with third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.

🔐 Data Security

I take the security of your personal information seriously and implement reasonable measures to protect it from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. This includes using SSL encryption for data transmission and secure hosting services. However, please note that no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and I cannot guarantee absolute security. You provide information at your own risk.

👶 Children’s Privacy

WholePlates is not intended for children under the age of 13, and I do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided me with personal information, please contact me at contact@wholeplates.com, and I will promptly delete such information from my records.

✅ Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data I hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Objection: Object to processing of your personal information
• Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service
• Withdraw consent: Withdraw consent for data processing at any time

To exercise these rights, please contact me at contact@wholeplates.com. I will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe as required by applicable law.

🌍 International Data Transfers

WholePlates is operated from the United States. If you are accessing the site from outside the U.S., please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where data protection laws may differ from those in your country. By using WholePlates, you consent to this transfer of information.

🔄 Changes to This Privacy Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in my practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. I encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of WholePlates after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.