Spinach is definitely a powerhouse food. If your baby balks, tell her the story of Popeye, the cartoon sailor from 1929 who was able to do the work of twelve men because he ate his spinach. Your rendition of a sailor dance might also help convince her of the merits of eating spinach!

• Wash, peel, and core the pear. Cut into chunks and place in a steamer basket; then place the basket inside a saucepan.

• Add water to fill the bottom of the saucepan. Bring to a boil and steam until pear is very tender, about 8–10 minutes.

• If using fresh spinach, wash the leaves thoroughly, remove all stems and chop. Boil in a pan of shallow water for about 10 minutes.

• If using frozen spinach, defrost and cook according to the package directions. You'll need about ½ cup cooked spinach for this recipe.

• Place the spinach and pears on a plate along with the pear, and fork-mash them together. Add leftover cooking water from the pear if the mixture is too thick.