D., All I can say is avocado! It is completely messy, but fabulous. My first daughter could eat almost a whole one in no time flat. We would even go out to dinner and order avocado slices if they had avocado (Mexican restaurants always had it). They'd slice an entire half an avocado and charge whatever (think of cost similar to guacamole) and we were all happy :)
I was scared to death about the choking thing, but both of my girls jumped right past the baby food as soon as they got their hands on real food. They just weren't interested anymore. I steamed green beans, and they loved to hold them and eat them. If you are worried about choking then just overcook them a bit, they are so soft that it isn't a problem anymore. I also steamed carrot sticks, again till extra soft so that they just broke up in the mouth. Believe it or not they actually liked parsnips done this way too. They are sweet, I hadn't had them so I didn't know. My child care provider suggested them and they were a hit.
Another thing to try, once you are comfortable, is kidney beans. They look like little choking hazards, but they are so soft. At first I would just squish them with my fingers so as to break the skin, I felt safer that way, but I don't think it was really necessary. If you squish one in your fingers you will see that they give way immediately. My girls definitely had the instinct to chew without a problem. I would just put a bunch of the kidney beans on the high chair tray and they would be gone in the blink of an eye.
As for pre-made store brought stuff. There also also crackers called Mum Mums. They are in the health food section at Shaws. They are super light weight rice crakers that melt in their mouths, so no fear of choking. Get them and try one your self and you will see how quickly they dissolve. Gerber does puffs, they are a melt in the mouth type thing as well. My girls loved them. Both the puffs and the Mum Mums are great for bringing along in the diaper bag, no mess and handy quickly.
All of the things I named I would just put on the tray and let them feed themselves, I didn't bother trying to feed them or trying to ration it out. They love getting their hands into their food and holding it themselves. It is great hand eye coordination. This stage is hugely messy, my kitchen floor was a disaster. Just wait and pick it all up at the end of the meal or you will spend the entire time under the table. My husband was always trying to get everything right away. Don't worry about it. Also, at restaurants, same thing. I'd often tell the waitress that I intended to pick it all up at the end (my guilty conscience). Then, at the end, make an effort to get most of it, and if it is still bad leave an extra bit in the tip. But during the meal, just enjoy your time out and eat, don't stress about the mess.
Lastly, I did just read other people's answers, and a lot of them said dice things up small. I just gave them the whole steamed green bean, whole slice of avocado, whole slice of steamed carrot, etc. They could hold them easily and it was never an issue, they would break off and break up so easily that I never worried, and again, I was completely worried about choking. Thinking back on my first daughter with whole greeen beans in her little fists, she did very well and was completely happy. For some reason I think I felt better because she had to bite down, versus popping a diced up piece in her mouth and just swallowing. I felt like she was less likely to choke because she had to chew just to get a piece. Then she just kept chewing. Who knows. You'll know what you and your child are comfortable with as you try things.
Best of luck.
K.