Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
It’s not often you find a salsa you can eat without chips. This is an awesome summer salsa that goes great with grilled fish, tortilla chips, or on its own.
Makes: 12 Servings
Ingredients
2 cups fresh melon, honeydew, cantaloupe or watermelon, chopped
1 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup onion, red or white, chopped
1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped, or hot sauce to taste
1/4 cup lime juice or lemon juice
Optional: cilantro or mint
Instructions
In a medium size bowl, stir together all ingredients.
Taste and season with more lemon or lime juice if needed.
Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes. Serve with grilled or broiled fish or chicken.
*Nutrition information includes honeydew, red onion, and lime juice for analysis.
Have you ever heard the term, “Eat a Rainbow”? Well this salsa certainly applies with loads of color and nutrition from heart healthy ingredients.
Makes: 8 Servings
Ingredients 1 can (15 oz)black beans, drained and rinsed 6tomatoes, seeded and diced 1/2 green pepper, seeded and diced 1 medium red onion, diced 1 large summer squash, peeled, seeds removed, diced 2 Tbs red wine vinegar 1 tsp Adobo seasoning 4 Tbs shredded cheese
Optional: cilantro or parsley, lemon or lime juice
Instructions
Combine all ingredients except cheese. Let sit for 30 minutes.
Spoon over tortilla chips, cooked rice, or noodles.
Top with grated, part-skim cheese. Serve hot or cold!
*Nutrition information includes Mexican blend shredded cheese for analysis.
Head to your local farmers market (or just swing by the grocery store) and you will have a fresh salsa in minutes. This salsa is great with chips or veggies, and also could be a tasty topping for chicken or fish.
Makes: 8 Servings
Ingredients
3/4 cup corn, fresh, canned or frozen
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup tomatoes, diced, fresh or canned
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
2 Tbs lime juice
2 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup picante sauce
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Chill until serving time.
Drain before serving.
Serve with low-fat baked tortilla chips or fresh vegetables.
Source: Kansas Family Nutrition Program, Kids a Cookin’
You can make this simple fruit kabob recipe with any fruit of your choice! Check out what fruits are in season in CT and get creative with your own variation of this delicious treat!
Makes: 6 kabobs
Ingredients
1 cup yogurt, low-fat vanilla
2 pears, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes
3 cups strawberries, stems removed
2 bananas, cut into 1-inch slices
1 can (14 oz) pineapple chunks, canned in their own juice, drained
6 wooden skewers
Instructions
Cut up one cup of strawberries into small slices. In a small bowl, mash slices with a fork.
In another small bowl, combine the vanilla yogurt and mashed strawberry slices. Set aside.
Thread the fruits by alternating the pears, strawberries, bananas, and pineapple onto the skewers.
Serve fruit skewers with a dollop of the strawberry sauce on the side.
Note: If you do not have wooden skewers, you can simply dip the pieces of fruit in the sauce or make a fruit salad!
We think fruit is delicious enough on its own, but this simple dip can make fruit taste even better. This dip is also perfect for getting kids to eat more fruit, especially if they’re picky!
Makes: 4 Servings
Ingredients
8 oz yogurt, low-fat vanilla
2 Tbs orange juice, 100% juice, frozen concentrate, thawed
1 Tbs lime juice
Instructions
In a small bowl, combine yogurt, orange juice concentrate, and lime juice. Mix well.
Serve with your favorite fruit (sliced apples, pears, peaches, grapes, etc.) for dipping.
Source: California Department of Health Services
Photo Source: eatfresh.org