Fish Meatballs

Potato is always cooked, never raw. Boil, steam, bake, or roast until very soft, then mash to a smooth purée or offer a finger-length soft-cooked wedge. A little breast milk, formula, or water loosens a stiff mash. Skip salt.

Cook carrots until very soft, so a fork slides through with no resistance. Steam, boil, or roast, then serve as a smooth purée or a soft mash. For self-feeding, offer soft-cooked finger-length batons. Raw carrot belongs only as fine shreds. Skip added salt.

Cook the fish all the way through, never raw or seared. Choose a low-mercury fish and remove every bone by running your fingers through the flesh. Flake it small and mash it smooth, or stir the flakes into a purée. Introduce it on its own and wait a few days before adding another new allergen.

Cook oats with plenty of liquid into a smooth, thick oatmeal. Use breast milk, formula, or water, and thin it as needed so it's easy to swallow. Iron-fortified baby oat cereal works well here too.

Sesame is one of the top-9 allergens, so introduce it on its own when a few first foods are tolerated and watch for a reaction. The easiest first form is smooth tahini (sesame paste) thinned with water, milk, or puree to a thin, drinkable consistency and stirred into porridge, yogurt, or a vegetable mash. A light sprinkle of finely ground sesame over soft food also works.

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.