You can replace dates with soft dried apricots, if desired.

When buying fish, try to source a fish that is both sustainable and lower in mercury. Try to avoid fish that's typically high in mercury, such as shark (flake) or billfish (swordfish, marlin).

You can replace apples with pears in this recipe, if desired. Cooking time may vary.

Quinoa is gluten free and it's a wonderfully nutritious source of fibre, protein, iron, zinc and calcium. Botanically, it's actually not a grain - it's a seed, from the same family as beetroot and spinach. You might like to add it to your fruit purées too (just cook it first following the same method as this recipe). It tends to thicken purées, so add as much water or your baby's milk as needed to achieve the desired consistency.

Where possible, try to source organic strawberries. Unfortunately, strawberries have been found to contain higher amounts of pesticide residues than many other fruits, so they're one fruit I always try to buy organically grown.

Adding spice, such as cinnamon and fresh ginger, to your baby's purées is a source of goodness and it also helps your baby become accustomed to new flavours. Exposure to a variety of tastes is particularly crucial in the first year of life when babies are typically more accepting of unfamiliar tastes.

Using ripe fruit will ensure this recipe isn't too tart for your baby.

Unlike most packaged baby custard, this custard has no added sugar. It simply derives its natural sweetness from the dates and banana. Remember that riper bananas are naturally sweeter, so try not to use unripe banana.