So as you know, the freezer aisles of grocery stores have become my favourite places in recent weeks. Just as I thought I couldn't get any bigger, the baby bump is undergoing another growth spurt and my metabolism is in overdrive. It's a great excuse to eat for two, but it's also making me feel like a walking furnace. On that note, let me remind you that if you see an extremely pregnant woman battling the heat in Bermuda, the kind thing to do is to bury her in frozen peas. Comments such as "whoah that's a big one!" are neither helpful nor appreciated. They are also likely to get you injured. If one more person tells me how enormous I am, or laughs at my belly button, I will hit them with whatever icy cold object I am clinging on to. You have been warned.

Chloe, on the other hand, can of course get away with anything. She tells me daily how big my bump is, but as she follows it with a rendition of 'twinkle twinkle little star', or whispers to the baby "stop growing, it's time to come OUUUUT!" she just makes me laugh. A good job too, as experimenting with the terrible twos when your mum is 37 weeks pregnant is not necessarily a wise move.

Fortunately, the tantrums so far have been few and far between. I did just say "so far" … I'm sure at some point you'll see me in Lindo's trying to calm down a toddler who is foaming at the mouth with fury. I have to say though, that whilst I'm normally a big fan, Lindo's is not making this toddler process easy. Sure, navigating the aisles can be a fun and educational experience, but what happens when you get to the check out? Each and every toddler is within arms reach of candy, gum, batteries, razor blades and condoms. Not only am I anti the candy-at-the-checkout strategy from an obesity epidemic perspective, but I also don't appreciate having to wrestle birth control out of the hands of a two year old – especially in front of a captive audience.

I have however found a solution, and that is to keep Chloe's little hands busy with a fun snack whilst I'm unloading the cart. Fortunately Lindo's does redeem itself in this area and carries a number of options that are not only healthy, but interesting enough to contend with the apparently irresistible draw of Duracell batteries.

Our running favourite at the moment are the Ella's Kitchen Pack O' Snacks – little packets of dried fruit, chopped up into tiny bits that keep toddler hands busy for at least five minutes. The packs are fun and brightly coloured and look more like candy than health food. There are three options in this range: the crumbly one, the chewy one and the chompy one. All seem to go down well with Chloe, but you may want to favour the chewy (red) and crumbly (yellow) versions – these have far less naturally occurring sugar than the chompy one (green). Less sugar tends to result in a more even mood from your little one, so it's worth making the wiser choice. However a quick tip, if your child is adamant that they would like the chompy one, try following it with an organic string cheese. The protein/fat in the cheese will help to slow down the release of sugar into their bloodstream, preventing a sugar dip (and a bad mood) later on.

Don't fret however if you can't find the Pack O' Snacks, as there are also several other options that will help to keep your toddler busy as you hurry through the check out. These include: fresh fruit, the Annie's Bunny range of crackers, wholegrain cereals and organic cheese strings. Just try and avoid the Cheeze-Its and super sugary cookies – it may seem like an easy option at the time, but getting your child into health snacking habits young is a crucial part of helping them become a healthy adult.

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. She can be contacted at nourishbda@gmail.com.