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Any parent knows that getting a child to eat a healthy diet can be a challenge, and sometimes a young one might decide meat is no longer on his personal menu. If this happens, don't panic. A simple understanding that meat-free children can get their daily recommended intake of protein on a vegetarian diet is quite easily grasped and fun to implement in a household. Keep in mind that children have very specific nutritional needs. They require high levels of protein, calcium, iron and dietary fat for healthy development. You may want to consult with your pediatrician to be sure that you're meeting all your child's nutritional needs. He might recommend a nutritional supplement or have other useful suggestions on healthy vegetarian eating for kids. Vegetarian meals for kids can be healthy, nutritious, delicious, and quick and easy to prepare. According to a 2009 American Dietetic Association position paper posted on the VRG website, children who are raised on vegetarian diets tend to establish lifelong healthy eating patterns. Compared with nonvegetarian kids, vegetarian kids tend to be leaner; have lower serum cholesterol levels; take in less cholesterol, saturated fats and total fat; and have a higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and fiber.