Avocado, Tomato, Lime and Cilantro

A ripe avocado is one of the easiest first foods. Peel it, remove the pit, and mash the soft flesh smooth, or leave it slightly lumpy as your baby gets used to texture. You can also offer a thick finger-length wedge to hold and gnaw on. It is naturally soft and squishes easily between two fingers.

Choose a ripe, soft tomato. Peel off the skin (it can bunch up and be hard to chew), scoop out the seedy core, and mash the flesh or stir it into a purée. If offering a piece to hold, give a soft finger-length strip of peeled flesh. Cherry and grape tomatoes are a round choking shape, so always quarter them lengthwise into small pieces and never serve them whole or halved.

Lime is very tart, so it works best as a flavoring rather than a food on its own. Squeeze a little juice into purees, plain yogurt, soups, or cooked vegetables, or stir in a small amount of finely grated zest. Remove all seeds first and wipe baby's face afterward, since the acidity can redden delicate skin.

Cilantro (also called fresh coriander leaf) has a bright, fresh flavor and is a simple way to vary early tastes. Finely chop a small amount of the soft leaves and stir it through purees, mashed beans, soft rice, or yogurt. Chopping it small lets it blend in smoothly with the food.