Have you ever wondered if there are options beyond rice cereal and jarred baby food when it comes to first foods for your baby? Making your own baby food gives your little one the freshest foods and saves you money, too. Opt for fresh or frozen versions over canned to avoid added salt and sugar.

As always, consult your pediatrician before beginning solids—better safe than sorry!

1. Avocado

These smooth, creamy fruits are loaded with healthy fat and dietary fiber. Their mild taste makes them a popular choice for a first food. Serving avocado to your wee one couldn’t be easier; simply slice the avocado in half, scoop out the flesh, and mash with a fork until you reach the desired consistency.

For a thinner puree, add breast milk or formula—for thicker puree add rice cereal.

2. Banana

Bananas are another easy first food. Rich in potassium, bananas are a sweet treat that are simple to prepare. Use the back of a fork to mash the banana until it has the consistency of pudding, then serve.

When babies first start eating solids they only need a couple of tablespoons of food at each meal. Try freezing leftover mashes and purees in ice cube trays for use later, or have a healthy snack and finish the rest of the banana yourself!

3. Pear

A ripe pear is very soft, so pears can also be easily mashed like avocado or banana. If your pears aren’t fully ripe you can also peel and heat pear chunks to make into a mash or puree. Pears provide dietary fiber and are rich in Vitamins C, B2, and E.

4. Apple

Your baby is the apple of your eye, and making applesauce is as easy as apple pie. Simply peel, core, and heat apples with one cup of water or apple juice over medium-hot heat for 25 minutes. Puree, blend, or mash to desired consistency. For a sweeter sauce add some sugar, but not too much—your baby is sweet enough!

5. Mango

Mangoes are loaded with Vitamin A, which means they’re great for eye and immune health. Mangoes are typically considered a more exotic fruit, but they’re very easy to prepare and are great for baby. Slice the mango in half, remove the pit, and cut fruit into cubes without cutting through the skin. Turn skin in to make cubes pop out and then slice or scoop out cubes. Puree or mash the cubes, and serve.

6. Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are delicious and don’t take much work to prepare. Whether you bake or boil the potato, cook until it is soft enough that a fork easily goes through it. A dash of cinnamon brings out its sweet, earthy flavor. This fall favorite is readily available and is a healthy option for baby’s first food.

7. Squash

Another fall food that is great for babies—squash can be bland or savory, so it is a healthy alternative to sweeter fruits. Squash needs to be baked or boiled before pureeing. Since squash can be difficult to slice when it is raw, pierce squash several times and then bake whole to spare your knives a tough job.

8. Peach

Peaches have loads of potassium and Vitamin A, so they’re a great choice to for your little one. A fully ripened peach can be somewhat squishy, so they are easy to mash or puree without any cooking. The sweet and sour taste of peaches is often a hit with youngsters, so try them out soon!

9. Apricot

Apricots are full of lycopene and beta-carotene. A ripe apricot will be soft, but not squishy. Apricots can be sliced in half, pitted, and baked to bring out their full flavor before pureeing. Blanching them in boiling water for a few minutes is another quick prep option.

10. Carrot

This veggie is one of the top favorites for many people. If you’re helping your baby develop his pincer grasp, shredded carrots are a fun treat to work with. Boiled, baked, or steamed, carrots can be pureed or served in soft slices for baby to enjoy.