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These new charts were based on a years-long study, which began in 1997. This study showed that, given healthy conditions and proper nutrition early in life, children from countries as diverse as Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman, and the United States show similar growth patterns.

Taking into account that the children followed over the course of this study included every kind of religious, ethnic, and nutritional background, it goes to show that vegan children develop into healthy teens and adults the world over. For the first time, these growth charts show how children should grow for optimal health rather than just describing how they’re growing compared to the average child. To discuss these WHO charts with your doctor, print one at www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/en/index.html.

Discovering a Bounty of Choices for Your Little Vegan

Your kid’s vegan menu can and should offer more variety than her omnivorous classmate’s. Creating breakfast, lunch, and dinner to mimic what “normal” people eat is simple. Your family may be worried that a vegan lunch will draw stares or unwelcome comments in the cafeteria, but that’s uncommon — and it can be avoided if it does happen.

Plan ahead and do a little research into what the natives are eating at school and at birthday parties. For instance, is pizza being served as the hot lunch item on Friday? If so, make a vegan pizza for dinner on Thursday and send a few slices as leftover lunch. To help your kid feel included at the next birthday party, find out what food the host is offering. Purchase or make a vegan version of that party food and have your kid take it with her. Colors, shapes, and sizes are important here: Ask whether the pizza will be cut into squares or pie slices. If nonvegan cupcakes will be the treat of the day, send your child with vegan cupcakes (rather than baking a full cake). The idea is to help your little vegan blend right in.

In this section, I provide you with some information on choosing kid-friendly meals and snacks for your growing vegan.

Offering kid-friendly vegan fare

American kids eat little real food these days. A normal day includes many highly processed junk foods, some disguised as being healthy. Breakfast may be cereal with hidden sugar, frozen pastry strudels, and even soda or other caffeinated beverages. Lunch will likely contain chips, more soda, cookies, french fries, and perhaps a burger or hot dog. Dinner with the family often means a fatty and heavily salted and sweetened fast-food meal purchased from a drive-through. When parents offer choices like these for their children, kids will take them up on it.

If you want your kid to eat healthy foods, you should only offer appropriate choices. Provide real foods for every meal and eliminate the processed junk food entirely. They may complain at first, but most kids won’t starve themselves. Stock up on whole grains, low-sodium canned soups, fresh fruit, and healthy snacks. If you only offer healthy foods, your kids will begin to eat (and willingly choose) those healthy foods whether you’re around or not. However, keep in mind that some kids are picky, and it can take up to a dozen times for a new food to be tasted and enjoyed.

Here’s a sample list of kid-friendly vegan meals that most parents can whip up whether they went to culinary school or not:

Baked potato fries with fruit juice-sweetened ketchup

Baked potato with steamed broccoli and either olive oil or vegan cream cheese

Barley and vegetable soup

Burgers, hot dogs, and sandwich slices made of tofu and other meat substitutes

Grilled soy cheese sandwiches

Oatmeal with apples and cinnamon

Pancakes spread with almond butter and pure maple syrup

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (try ’em grilled, too!)

Rice and beans with a side of salsa and guacamole

Romaine lettuce salad with cherry tomatoes

Sautéed seitan with mashed potatoes

Spaghetti with tomato sauce (mix in some cooked lentils for extra protein)