Thoughts on first foods for a vegetarian baby

Not busy lately, just chillin' with this sweetie!The topic I'm reading up on lately is first foods. Mia's tried a few things (just tastes); she turns six months old mid-August.

My plan was to do baby-led weaning, but I think I will do a modified version that does include purees-to-mashes, based on the reading I've been doing. I liked the idea of BLW without purees, but the World Health Organization as well as my provincial and federal governments recommend purees that gradually have more texture.

I also liked the idea of skipping baby cereals altogether - they seem like unnecessarily bland, empty calories - but again am doubting that. The reason I'm having doubts is that we are (lacto-ovo) vegetarian, and her nutrition is really important. I know she will get adequate iron, zinc and B12 once she starts eating what we eat, but until then the cereals are iron-fortified, so we can be sure she's getting enough. Plant-based iron is harder to absorb, so she'd need to eat bigger amounts (than she would of meat products) to get enough, and I don't think her appetite will allow that for the first while.

Any thoughts on first foods? Any vegetarian baby mamas reading who'd care to share stories? Did you supplement with vitamins?

ps while we're on the topic, Glimpse Reviews is hosting a giveaway for a Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair!