I learned all of my vegan and vegetarian cooking from two people who were raised as such since birth. Neither had ever eaten meat (or cheese or dairy in the vegan's case) and they were healthy and well nourished people.
The biggest things they taught me was use of tofu (there is a difference in types and how to prepare it), nuts and whole grains. And that you don't try to emulate "meat" foods because you will fail and be disappointing. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan foods that are delicious in their own right and will give you the iron and protein that you would have gotten from other sources.
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