You can replace milk with breast milk or a dairy-free alternative.

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.

You may wish to add up to 50 g water, breast milk or formula milk to achieve a smoother consistency.

Substitute courgettes with washed carrot pieces, green beans or spinach and halve the quantity of potatoes. Adjust quantity of water to get desired consistency.

Choose a cut of beef that is lean and of good quality (e.g. fillet of beef). Other cuts of beef may be too fatty and difficult for babies to digest.

The creaminess of the sweet potato balances perfectly with the sweetness of the pear and apple in this purée.

Carrots and sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, vitamins and minerals.

You may wish to add up to 50 g water, breast milk or formula milk to achieve a smoother 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.

Fresh herbs provide a variety of new flavours to enhance foods your baby may already be familiar with. The coriander in this recipe brings some interest to the subtler broccoli and courgette.

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

Please consult your health-care provider before introducing solid foods to 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.