By Jessica Kurosaki, Le Puree In-House Dietitian
Introducing solids is a big (and often messy) milestone, but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Whether you’re starting with purees, finger foods, or a bit of both, the goal is to build variety, confidence, and a love of real food.
We’ve rounded up some of the best first foods to support your baby’s development - meals that grow with them from first tastes through to toddlerhood and beyond.
Start strong and keep the nutrition going. (Hint: every food can be a forever food!)
🍼 6–8 Months: First Tastes
These foods are so exciting- they can offer a range of textures, flavours and nutrients! Get creative!
Pumpkin or sweet potato
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Start: Steamed and mashed- or pureed, depending on your feeding strategy
- Later: Stir into ricotta, blend into muffins or pancakes
PICTURED: Le Puree Pumpkin, Banana, Carrot Puree
Avocado
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Start: Mashed down as smooth as you’d like
- Later: Sliced, chunkier mash or spread on toast
Banana
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Start: Mashed or pureed
- Later: Peeled and segmented- longer pieces are safer. Also sliced or chunks into cereal
Egg (allergen exposure!)
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Start: Well cooked. Mashed or scrambled and offer a small amount to start
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Later: Omelette strips, egg muffins, cooked into baked goods
🍴 8–10 Months: Exploring New Textures
Starting to explore textures, more allergen exposure and tons more nutrients!
Stewed Apple or Pear
- Start: Steamed, peeled and mashed. Some babies will manage spears to hold onto at this stage
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Later: Steamed or baked- grated into porridge, or soft pieces as handheld snacks
Tofu (allergen exposure!)
- Start: Offering silken tofu is a no cook, extremely messy meal. It’ll be shampooed into their hair if they approve, but it’s an amazon source pf protein
- Later: Cubed as finger food, in stir fries or scrambled eggs
PICTURED: Le Puree Tofu. Green Lentil & Wakame Puree
Fish (boneless) (allergen exposure!)
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Start: Flaked, deboned and mixed with mashed veggies
- Later: Salmon or mackerel fritters, baked and flaked pieces served with baked veggies, pasta or risotto
PICTURED: Le Puree Mackerel Fritters
🥗 10–12 Months: Mini Meals Begin
More variety and independence in eating.
Greek Yoghurt (full-fat, plain) (allergen exposure!)
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Start: Offer this on its own or with fruit pieces that they can safely chew
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Later: In smoothies, dips, or dolloped on pancakes
PICTURED: Le Puree Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Greek Yoghurt
Lentils
- Start: Well cooked and mashed with veggies
- Later: In dahl, veggie patties, or sub half the meat from a bolognese sauce for lentils (more nutrients, more cost effective). Hello win win!
Every food can be a food to keep in their diet forever. We believe that baby food is just food. So, however you start it- let’s aim to keep it in their rotation!
