5 Of The Most Disappointing 365 Brand Snacks At Whole Foods

Frozen Chicken-Style Plant-Based Nuggets

There's no denying that Whole Foods offers an impressive selection of vegan and vegetarian options. The grocery chain features a wide array of meat alternatives and plant-based dishes that are both delicious and convenient. However, some of their products fall short, such as the Whole Foods 365-brand plant-based nuggets. While they might seem like a quick and satisfying snack to satisfy your chicken nugget cravings without the meat, these breaded bites made from soy and wheat gluten are likely to leave you feeling let down.

It's not that these nuggets are outright bad, but they are certainly lacking in flavor. In fact, they don't compare favorably to other meatless nuggets available today in terms of taste or texture. The market for meat substitutes has exploded in recent years, leading to a plethora of innovative vegan and vegetarian options. From Impossible Foods, which strives to replicate the taste of meat, to established brands in the frozen aisle, there are plenty of excellent choices for plant-based nuggets—unfortunately, Whole Foods' 365 plant-based nuggets are not among them. While you might need to spend a bit more on a different brand, if you want to avoid the taste of cardboard, it’s likely worth the extra cost.

Chocolate Almondmilk Pudding

In the aisles of your nearby Whole Foods, you'll discover an array of milk alternatives that may exceed your expectations. Alongside the familiar soy and almond options, you'll find intriguing choices like pistachio and hemp milk. However, there's at least one plant-based dairy substitute at Whole Foods that you might want to skip.

The 365 brand chocolate-flavored almond milk pudding is a prime example. While it may seem like a delightful snack for those looking to avoid dairy—evoking memories of the chocolate pudding cups often found in school lunches—the reality is that this almond milk-based treat falls short in flavor.

Although the pudding is dairy-free, it also lacks a key element: taste. Instead of the creamy, rich, and sweet chocolate experience you anticipate when opening a pudding cup, you’re greeted with a thick, gooey concoction that barely hints at chocolate flavor. In this instance, you’d be better off choosing a name-brand dairy-free pudding, even if it comes at a slightly higher price than the 365 products.

Organic Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

If you're putting together a snack platter or just craving a tasty dipping sauce for your nuggets or pizza, long-lasting ranch dressing is the perfect solution. This tangy, often buttermilk-based sauce has developed a devoted following over the years, transcending its role as a mere salad dressing. Ranch fans appreciate its versatility and generously drizzle it on nearly everything. However, they also recognize that not all ranch dressings are created equal, and unfortunately, this is true for Whole Foods 365 brand Organic Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.

While ranch lovers may hope to discover a zesty, flavorful, and affordable snack companion in this dressing, they are likely to be met with a lackluster (and not particularly ranch-flavored) disappointment. To begin with, this product fails to deliver the vibrant, herb-infused taste that we all cherish — it lacks the signature punch. Additionally, the buttermilk component introduces an odd, sour note that completely misses the target, coming across as sharp rather than pleasantly tangy. If you're in search of an exceptional ranch dressing, you might want to look elsewhere.

Organic Morning O's Honey & Nut

Cereal, whether enjoyed in a bowl with milk (or a milk substitute), on its own, or conveniently packed in a resealable plastic bag, is an excellent snack choice. For many, Honey Nut Cheerios reign supreme. These honey-flavored, oat-based O's are a breakfast favorite and a common addition to lunchboxes and snack mixes, and it’s easy to understand why. The cereal strikes a delightful balance between sweetness and a nutty, oat flavor, making it ideal for munching throughout the day.

It’s no surprise that Whole Foods' 365 brand attempted to replicate this beloved cereal. However, it may have been better if they hadn’t bothered. 365 by Whole Foods' Organic Morning O's Honey & Nut falls short, lacking any real honey flavor and offering only a basic sweetness that lacks the depth of the original. Additionally, the cereal is rather bland and fails to stand on its own. It doesn't measure up as a substitute for Cheerios or as a product in its own right, leaving you craving the original brand instead of providing a uniquely satisfying alternative (unlike Trader Joe's famous Joe-Joe cookies, which successfully compete with Oreos and other sandwich cookies).

Veggie Straws

This entry stands out from the rest in that it isn't outright terrible, but it still falls short of expectations. The Veggie Straws from 365 by Whole Foods make for a decent snack. When you grab a bag, you'll discover a satisfyingly salty treat that could easily be mistaken for a potato chip. The issue, however, is that these veggie straws are not potato chips. What this 365-branded snack lacks is any genuine vegetable flavor. While these crunchy tubes boast fun, veggie-inspired colors, they fail to deliver any recognizable taste of tomatoes or spinach, and their nutritional value is also lacking.

Instead, you're left with salty, starchy straws that are only vaguely salty, with little to no potato flavor. If you're in search of a hearty vegetable or fruit snack, you might be better off exploring the produce section of the store or checking out the dried fruits and vegetables for something that truly offers vibrancy and nutrition.