Poi, mashed and cooked taro root, is a popular food of the Pacific Islands and is a great option as a first food for babies. When cooked, it looks similar to a light purple mashed potato. Taro root offers many benefits to baby, such as providing live probiotics (significantly more of these bacteria per gram than yoghurt, according to some data), fibre, and potassium. Documented evidence suggests that taro shows promise for use in infants with allergies or failure-to-thrive.
To make poi, simply peel and steam taro root and mash it with some breastmilk or formula to make an appropriate consistency. Baby-led weaning? Just bake or boil taro root for a simple first food for baby to enjoy.