If a person is described as wholesome

[Pirelli]

What sort of person does this conjure up in your mind?

Decent and dependable types. I used to work with a man I described as wholesome - he was a thoroughly good man. He wasn't boring at all, he was a good laugh. He was completely respectable and he never put a foot wrong with anyone.

Kate Humble is a good example.

Sorry if this might have been triggering @AncientBallerina

If I were using it of someone, rather than a dish, it wouldn’t be a compliment. Would definitely imply dull, decent, possibly naive, certainly someone who sees the world in tidy categories. Lacking in nuance.

Healthy, decent, honest, clean living.
Definitely NOT a smoker, significant drinker or taker of illegal drugs.
Probably no tattoos?
Overall sweet-natured person. Someone you'd trust your children with.
It's a lovely word, and I'd definitely see it as a compliment 😊

pickledandpuzzled

Girl next door.

Sandy 1 rather than Sandy 2!

You’ve nailed it!
I’ve no problem with wholesome either but I’d rather be Sandy 2. Much more fun!

This

I wouldn't describe a person as wholesome, who could live up to that?! We all have or at least had varying degrees of bad. Holly W is a fake snake not wholesome at all. She is very calculating and uses her sexuality to get ahead.

When I hear someone described as wholesome, how I would take it would depend on the tone and personality of the speaker, ie are they likely to be sarcastic?
If so then it means that that person is nice but dull, simple and safe or if the context indicates it was meant as a compliment that then the person is like a sweet old granny or lives honestly by the book and bakes things, making little cute home crafts. That they are sweet natured, cheerful, very polite and still have an innocent and optimistic outlook on life and others. They aren't very ambitious, homebodies, hugely family focused. They might be religious. They are very kind to a fault. No serious bad habits or addictions, sexually conservative.

@Hoolihan thats exactly who I first thought of.

My DD21 sometimes has what she calls a wholesome day or evening with her friend where they do something like have a picnic or play games rather than going out drinking so I think the modern take would be something like that.