According to an article in Pediatric News, it sounds like current research (and a soon to appear statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition) supports offering meat, fruits, and vegetables as nutritious first foods.

There is no good reason not to introduce meats, vegetables, and fruits as the first complementary foods, according to Dr. Frank R. Greer, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’s Committee on Nutrition.

Introducing these foods early and often promotes healthy eating habits and preferences for these naturally nutrient-rich foods, said Dr. Greer, who is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Just a note — for decades La Leche League has been recommending whole foods (not processed rice cereal) at around the middle of the first year of life when babies are showing signs that they’re ready. It looks like the time-tested recommendation from experienced mothers is holding up well.