As with carrots, spinach may contain naturally occurring nitrates and should only be given to babies older than 7 months. Even then, use in moderation until your baby is closer to 1 year old. For this recipe, you could substitute commercially prepared jarred baby spinach, which is free of nitrates.

• Wash and peel the potato. Cut it into small pieces.

• Peel and slice the onion into thin pieces. Sauté in a deep nonstick pan until soft and translucent. If the onion sticks, use some butter in the pan. Avoid using cooking oil.

• Add the diced potato and water to the pan. Bring to a boil; then turn down the heat and simmer until the potato is tender, about 25–30 minutes. Add more water if the potato sticks to the pan.

• If using fresh spinach, wash the leaves thoroughly, chop, and remove all stems. Boil in a pan of shallow water for about 10 minutes. If using frozen spinach, defrost and cook according to the package directions.

• Combine the cooked potatoes, onion, and spinach in a food processor or blender. Purée until smooth, adding liquid as needed to achieve the desired consistency.