Sweet Potato Sticks
"Sticks of sweet potato are a great length, shape, and texture for early eaters when baked, air fried, or roasted until tender," Malkani says. When prepping your sweet potato, peel it and cut it into 1/2-inch-thick sticks. If your potato is extra long, cut it in half before cutting your sticks.
While it is not recommended to add salt to an infant's food, unless there is an underlying medical reason to avoid them, adding age-appropriate spices to your potato (like cinnamon) can help expose tiny palettes to different flavors. Plus, sweet potato is a natural source of vitamin A, which may support baby's immune health.
Sautéed Spinach
Spinach may not be top of mind as a food that is ideal for new eaters. But when cooked, this veggie is quite simple to grasp, and it is soft enough for little ones to tolerate safely. To prepare, add the spinach to a food processor until it is finely chopped. In a medium pan, heat two tablespoons of olive oil. Once sizzling, add a clove of minced garlic and sauté for three minutes. Add the chopped spinach and cook until the veggies are soft, approximately five minutes. Once the spinach is cooked and wilted, allow the dish to cool completely before offering it to your little one.
