The alcohol-free trend is no longer a niche movement but is quickly becoming a mainstream shift in drinking culture. Craft breweries are debuting complex, full- bodied non-alcoholic beers, while major wine and spirits producers are developing remarkably similar renditions of traditional favourites, minus the buzz.

The Sobr Market, alcoholic bottle shop, a non-tastingroom and online marketplace, has witnessed the growing demand for alcohol-free beverages since it opened in 2022. “Being sober is an overall lifestyle movement,” says co-founder Jessie Haliburton. “There are far more people now being cognizant of their health — mentally, physically, and, even spiritually.”

Jessie and her husband Shane launched The Sobr Market in Winnipeg, after Shane decided alcohol was no longer serving him. Jessie soon followed suit, and the couple went all in on their mission to bring Canadians high-quality, tasty alcohol-free drinks.

Want to mimic that signature burn of alcohol in a mocktail? Try adding a little ginger, chili, black pepper or even a splash of vinegar. These ingredients add warmth and complexity, adding boldness to your booze-free drink.

“Because of the social stigma of not having a drink in hand and people asking, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Shane found a lot of support in having something that looked and tasted the part,” says Jessie. “We started importing personally until we realized there was a greater need.

The Sobr Market has since expanded to Toronto and, more recently, Burlington. Each location encourages visitors to sample products to find what suits their palette best. “The biggest thing we like to do is educate. We love to talk to people about the non- alc industry and what options there are, since everyone is always curious,” adds Jessie.

Innovation is happening across the country, including at Benjamin Bridge winery in Nova Scotia’s Gaspereau Valley. According to head winemaker Jean-Benoit Deslauriers, Benjamin Bridge has been keeping an eye on long-term trends, such as the alcohol-free movement, for quite some time. The company launched Nova Zero in 2021 — the zero-proof counterpart of their best-selling sparkling Nova 7 wine.

“We’ve been applying our creativity to create an extraordinarynon-alc experience that relies on our traditions as a sparkling wine house,” Deslauriers says.

He explains that wine is much harder to de-alcoholize than beer, for example, since the percentage is typically so much higher. Technologies available today, such as reverse osmosis or spinning cones, are impressively effective at maintaining the original flavour when the input has a lower amount of alcohol.

Put simply, the more alcohol a liquid has, the more passes the beverage has to take through these systems and the greater the flavour gap between the non-alc and the original.

Spirits For Non-Drinkers

Fans of the St Jacobs Farmers’ Market in Waterloo should check out Neoni. Along with zero-proof beers and wines, the store carries a huge selection of zero-proof whiskey, bourbon, rum, gin, amaretto, tequila, prosecco, and other flavourful and lively alcohol-free offerings.

Despite this reality, Benjamin Bridge is working to expand its alcohol-free portfolio, with research at advanced Deslauriers says projects stages. that
Canadians can expect a natural, artisanal, low- intervention non-alcoholic wine from the brand within the next five years. “We are participating in the ‘planetary race’ towards a game-changing alcohol-free wine,” he says.

It’s places like Sobr Market where incredible zero-proof drinks can be enjoyed, without judgement. Shane have Jessie and created an environment where community members can gather, try something new and share their story.

“Everyone has a story in the non-alc industry, whether it’s a connection to someone that needs these options, or for themselves, and that’s why we do what we do,” says Jessie.

We are participating in the ‘planetary race’ towards a game- changing alcohol-free wine. Jean-Benoit Deslauriers HEAD WINEMAKER, BENJAMIN BRIDGE.

It has been an amazing year for Canadian brands crafting alcohol- free wine, beer and spirits. When you can, choose to support local and enjoy the growing range of options now available. This is a trend that’s here to stay!

LOCAL LINKS:

Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
3426 Mainway, Burlington
nickelbrook.com

Sobr Market
396 Martha Street, Burlington
thesobrmarket.com

Neoni
878 Weber Street North, Waterloo (St Jacobs)
neoni.ca

BY LAUREN MEDEIROS

Back-to-school season is here, and so is the challenging task of packing lunches that your kids won’t toss or trade for junk food. You start off strong with shiny new lunchboxes, squeaky-clean containers, win the lunchbox battle and Pinterest boards of bento box masterpieces. By the end of September, however, your kids’ lovingly packed lunches are boomeranging back home half-eaten.

Lauren Williams, Registered Dietitian at Milton DistrictHospital, reminds parents to use Canada’s Food Guide when planning meals, while allowing for adjustments. “Children’s nutrition needs will change according to their age and activity level,” she says.

Finding a formula that works for you and your child at their stage of development can help you get an A in lunch packing. That said, getting it right shouldn’t be complicated.

The Lunchbox Formula

A lunch box with compartments makes packing easier. You can even label compartments as a reminder of what to pack. For example:

• Entree (sandwich, wrap, or dinner leftovers)
• Veggies
• Fruit
• Healthy Treat (energy balls or a low-sugar granola bar)

Williams recommends focusing on protein and fibre. “These two nutrients help keep tummies full, and bodies energized,” she says. Some quick pairings include whole wheat crackers and cheese or Greek yogurt and fruit.

For smoother mornings, Bonnie Flemington, Certified Nutritionist in Oakville, says prepping ahead is key. She suggests stocking up on make-ahead snacks such as:

• Hard-boiled eggs (“peel ahead of time so your child isn’t trying to do it at school,” she suggests).
• Pre-cut veggie sticks
• Mini homemade muffins
• Sliced melon
• Nut-free trail mix using a high fibre cereal, pumpkin or sunflower seeds and dried fruit

Packaged snacks can save time, too, but choose wisely. “Choose items with 2g or more fibre per serving and 8g or less sugar per serving,” says Williams. Low-sugar granola bars, roasted chickpeas, or individual cheese packs are great packaged snack options.

when LUNCH comes home

Half-eaten lunches are frustrating for parents, but it often comes down to control. Flemington encourages involving kids in the lunch process. “Let your child help pick a fruit or veggie for the week, or choose between two options for their lunch,” she says. “When they have some say, they’re more likely to eat what’s packed.”

Simple tweaks can also make a difference. Cut fruits or veggies into fun shapes, add dips like hummus or yogurt-based spreads, or turn sandwiches into DIY “lunchables” with crackers, cheese and lunchmeat.

Kids, like adults, get bored of the same lunch foods. To help stave off food boredom, rotate fruits and vegetables with one or two new options per week: carrot sticks one day, cucumber slices the next!

Want to encourage new foods? Make it into a game! Send a “mystery” item and have kids rate it on a scale of “Yum to Yuck” when they come home.

Packing school lunches isnt about perfection, it’s about balancing consistency and variety. With a little prep (and some kid input) you might just win the lunchbox battle. 

Need inspiration? Here are a few simple and nutritious lunch ideas:

• Taco Bean Salad: Mix black beans, corn, and tomatoes. Add tortilla chips for scooping.
• Pinwheel sandwiches: Spread cream cheese or hummus on a tortilla, layer deli meat and veggies, roll tight and slice into small rolls.
• Cold Pasta Salad: Toss Penne or rotini pasta with chicken cubes, tomatoes, cucumbers. Lightly dress with italian or ranch

BY LISA EVANS

The warm summer days we’ve been waiting for are finally here. Local ice cream and gelato shops are ready to help the community cool off with sweet, creamy goodness. There’s no shortage of fun spots to grab a cone, sundae, milkshake or gourmet popsicle. We’ve rounded up a few favourites that are synonymous with summertime.

Il Gelato di Carlotta
312 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville
gelatodicarlotta.com

Craving a European escape? The Cattani family’s gelato-making roots trace back generations to Florence, Italy. After moving to Canada, Carlotta Cattani, president and director of production, set out to bring authentic Italian gelato to Ontario. In 2013, with her husband and two brothers, Carlotta opened a shop in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Its sweet success led to new locations in Niagara Falls, Oakville, Toronto and Port Dalhousie. The company takes gelato to the next level with cookie sandwiches, mini cones and even gelato cannolis.

The Flavour Fox
2464 Lakeshore Road West # 5, Bronte
theflavourfox.com

Head to downtown Bronte’s The Flavour Fox for a crisp, thin Italian waffle cone filled to the brim with artisanal gelato made fresh daily. Colourful prints line the glass display case, making it nearly impossible to choose just one. But the truth is, you can’t go wrong. With a rotating selection of flavours like limoncello and stracciatella — plus classics like salted caramel and roasted pistachio— you’ll leave happy.

RC’s Boardwalk Fries & Ice Cream Parlour
2013 Lakeshore Road, Burlington
F/p/RCs-Boardwalk-fries-and-ice-cream-parlour

RC’s is a longtime staple on the downtown Burlington waterfront, a retro-style diner bursting with charming décor like neon signs and vintage posters.They’ve just launched a brand-new flavour: Monster Cookie Ice Cream, which has a bright blue base loaded with cookie dough chunks and cookie crumbs. RC’s is also famous for whipped-cream-topped milkshakes, classic banana splits and perfectly dipped chocolate cones.

Nanis Gelato
2485 Appleby Line, Burlington
www.nanisgelato.com

Named after the word for “grandmother” in several South Asian languages, Nani’s Gelato is inspired by South Asian and Indian flavours. After opening their first shop in Toronto’s Liberty Village, Nani’s has now made its way to Burlington — bringing bold, unique combos like coffee cardamom, mango lychee and carrot halwa (a spiced Indian dessert made with carrots, ghee and condensed milk).

La Creme de la Creme Creamery
389 John Street, Burlington
lacremedelacremecreamery.ca

Chocolate lovers, this one’s for you. Family-run La Creme de la Creme coats its soft serve in premium Belgian chocolate with flavours like pink bubble gum, blue cotton candy, Oreo and dark raspberry. Top it off with crushed peanuts, Fruity Pebbles, or waffle cone bits for the ultimate crunch. It’s a vibrant, flavour-packed experience. The vegan dark chocolate with oat-based soft serve is a great dairy-free option.

Hippie Pops
Order online or at Mary’s Muffins, 326 Kerr Street, Oakville
hippiepops.ca

Serving up Paletas, which are Latin American-inspired fruit pops, Hippie Pops is a local gem doing events and pop- ups that stand out for all the right reasons. These colourful treats are 100% vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar- free, making them perfect for anyone with dietary restrictions or simply looking for a healthier option. Each paleta is handmade with care. Top-selling flavours include Ontario strawberry, pink lemonade, piña colada mango, and blood orange clementine.

Centro Noca
590 Brant Street, Burlington
centrogarden.com

Centro Noca’s gelato is a delicious escape tucked right into the heart of Downtown Burlington. Each scoop is creamy, dreamy, and packed with vibrant, authentic Italian flavour. Whether you’re into classics like pistachio and dark chocolate, or fruity seasonal picks, there’s something to make your taste buds dance. The charming, stylish shop set inside a stunning Victorian era building (complete with a sunny patio, huge corten steel planters AND a trickling fountain!) add a touch of European magic to every visit. It’s the perfect sweet stop after a day of shopping, strolling, or simply soaking up the downtown vibes.

Kawartha Dairy
3465 Fairview Street, Burlington
kawarthadairy.com/burlington

Everyone’s cottage country favourite, Kawartha Dairy is one of the newer additions to Burlington’s ice cream scene and already a go-to for many. The warm, sugary smell of fresh waffle cones greets you at the door. Proudly Canadian and family owned since 1937, they’ve truly mastered the art of ice cream: rich, decadent, and made with fresh milk and cream from local farms. Each scoop is a little taste of tradition!

Other Local Favourites:

JAX SWEET SHOPPE
33 King Street West, Dundas
jaxsweetshoppe.com

LA DOLCE VITA
22 Lakeshore Road West,
Oakville
ladolcevitaoakville.com

NYLA’S ROOM
109 Thomas Street, Oakville
nylasroom.com

CREMA DI GELATO
415 Locust Street, Burlington
cremadigelato.weebly.com

BY LAUREN MEDEIROS