For TM31 users: when blending gradually increase from speed 4 to speed 8.

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.

If you can't source purple sweet potato or purple carrots, regular is fine too. The purple option contains anthocyanins not found in the standard orange varieties, so they're worth including in your baby's diet from time to time.

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.

You can replace the olive oil with butter in this recipe or use half of each. Butter tends to be preferred by many babies, but it's also worth getting your child accustomed to the more peppery flavour of olive oil.

You can replace asparagus with 30 g of peas, if desired.

Adding pear provides a bit of sweetness as well as extra fibre and nutrients. You can replace pear with apple in this recipe, if desired.

You can replace the fresh mango with frozen (defrosted) mango in this recipe.

You can replace cooking liquid in step 4 with baby's milk, if desired.