Battered Cauliflower Florets

Steam, roast, or boil cauliflower until very soft, until a fork slides through with no resistance. A whole soft floret with its stalk gives baby a built-in handle to hold. You can also mash it or blend it into a smooth purée. Serve plain and warm, with no added salt.

Wheat is one of the common food allergens, so it helps to offer it on its own first, in a small amount, and watch over the next couple of days before adding other new foods. Good early forms are a thick iron-fortified wheat cereal, soft well-cooked pasta, or lightly toasted bread cut into finger-width strips. Keep everything soft and moist, with no added salt or sugar.

Hard-cook the egg until both white and yolk are solid, then mash it smooth, or offer a well-set scramble or a soft omelet. A small amount, about a third of an egg, is plenty for a first taste.

Cook chickpeas until fully soft, then mash or flatten them well. A smooth no-salt hummus-style mash works nicely, or stir the mash into other purées. Never offer a whole, intact chickpea at this stage.

Stir a small drizzle of olive oil into a smooth purée or soft mash to add calories and richness. Use it as a cooking fat for vegetables or grains, or fold a little into the finished food just before serving.