  A new approach to construct initial data for binary systems with neutron star
components is introduced. The approach is a generalization of the puncture
initial data method for binary black holes based on Bowen-York solutions to the
momentum constraint. As with binary black holes, the method allows setting
orbital configurations with direct input from post-Newtonian approximations and
involves solving only the Hamiltonian constraint. The effectiveness of the
method is demonstrated with evolutions of double neutron star and black hole --
neutron star binaries in quasi-circular orbits.
