Whole Foods Shopping Guide

Complete analysis of 15,000+ Whole Foods and 365 Everyday Value products. Navigate America's premium grocer with real Processing and Nutrition Scores.

🛒 15 min read📊 Real Product Data💰 Budget-Conscious Tips

Whole Foods Store Brands Overview

365 Everyday Value

3.9

Average Processing Score across 4,936 products - excellent for a major store brand

Whole Foods Market

5.2

Average Processing Score for Whole Foods brand across 5,508 products

Key Insights

15,000+ Products Analyzed: Complete coverage of Whole Foods store brands

365 Outperforms: 365 Everyday Value (PS: 3.9) beats many national premium brands

Engine 2 Excellence: Plant-based line averages PS: 4.9 with NS: 7.7

Category Leaders: Frozen vegetables (PS: 1.3) and nuts (PS: 3.5) excel

365 vs Other Premium Store Brands

How 365 Everyday Value compares to other premium store brands across Processing and Nutrition Scores:

StoreBrandProductsAvg PSAvg NS
🥛 Organic ValleyOrganic Valley9243.04.8
🌿 AlbertsonsO Organics4,0573.45.4
🏪 Whole Foods365 Everyday Value4,9363.95.4
🛒 KrogerSimple Truth3,2764.25.1
🎯 TargetGood & Gather9,2394.35.2

365 ranks 3rd among premium store brands, behind Organic Valley and O Organics, but ahead of Simple Truth and Good & Gather with excellent nutrition scores.

Department-by-Department Shopping Strategy

🥜 Nuts & Seeds (Best Department)

366 products

PS: 3.5 • NS: 6.7

Strategy: 365's largest category with excellent scores. Stock up on raw nuts, seeds, and nut butters.

🥛 Dairy Excellence

277 milk products

PS: 2.3 • NS: 5.6

Strategy: 365 dairy products consistently outperform national brands. Excellent choice for organic milk, yogurt, and cheese.

🥦 Frozen Vegetables (Hidden Gem)

110 products

PS: 1.3 • NS: 7.0

Strategy: Outstanding scores across the board. Stock your freezer with 365 frozen vegetables for quick, healthy meals.

🍪 Proceed with Caution

Cookies & Crackers

PS: 6.7 • NS: 2.9

Strategy: Even 365's cookies and crackers have higher processing scores. Look for simpler ingredient lists when indulging.

Engine 2 Plant-Based Line Deep Dive

Engine 2 Performance

Products:137
Avg Processing Score:4.9
Avg Nutrition Score:7.7
Score Range:3.0 - 7.5

Engine 2 is Whole Foods' plant-based line developed with firefighter Rip Esselstyn. It focuses on whole food, plant-based nutrition.

Best for: Those following plant-based diets who want convenience without sacrificing nutrition quality.

Standout feature: Consistently high nutrition scores (7.7 average) while maintaining reasonable processing levels.

Surprising Processed Items at Whole Foods

Even at Whole Foods, some products have higher processing scores than expected:

Key takeaway: Even "healthy" breads at Whole Foods can have higher processing scores. Look for simpler ingredient lists and avoid products with long lists of preservatives and emulsifiers.

Budget-Conscious Shopping at Premium Prices

💰 Best Value Categories

Frozen Vegetables
1.3
Minimal
Processing
7.0
Excellent
Nutrition
Dried Beans & Lentils
1.0
Minimal
Processing
10.0
Excellent
Nutrition
Brown Rice & Oats
1.0
Minimal
Processing
10.0
Excellent
Nutrition

Maximum nutrition bang for your buck. These categories offer excellent scores at competitive prices even for Whole Foods.

🎯 Strategic Shopping Tips

  • 365 over national brands: Similar quality, better prices
  • Bulk bins: Often better deals on nuts, grains, and spices
  • Store-made items: Check ingredients - often simpler than packaged
  • Sale rotation: 365 products go on sale regularly
  • Frozen section: Year-round access to organic produce

Whole Foods vs Regular Grocery Stores

Metric365 Everyday ValueGreat Value (Walmart)Kirkland (Costco)
Product Count4,93619,2353,847
Avg Processing Score3.97.55.8
Avg Nutrition Score5.44.55.3
Organic FocusHighLowMedium

Whole Foods advantage: 365 significantly outperforms mass market store brands on processing scores (3.9 vs 7.5 for Great Value) while maintaining competitive nutrition scores.

Smart Whole Foods Shopping Strategy

  • Choose 365 over national brands: Processing Score of 3.9 vs 5.2 for Whole Foods brand, with better prices and similar quality.
  • Focus on single-ingredient items: Oats, rice, beans, and lentils all score perfect 1.0 processing scores with 10.0 nutrition scores.
  • Frozen vegetables are exceptional: 110 products with average PS: 1.3 and NS: 7.0 provide year-round organic nutrition.
  • Engine 2 for plant-based needs: Specialized line with strong nutrition scores (7.7) for whole food, plant-based eating.
  • Even healthy bread has processing: Ancient grains and seed breads still score 11.6-15.8, showing the reality of commercial bread production.

Disclaimer: All tools and data visualizations are provided for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended as health, medical, or dietary advice. Always consult healthcare professionals for personalized dietary guidance.