I'm not sure there's an aquatic plant in existence which is completely cichlid proof, however, anubias and moss balls have been the most durable IME. Anubias can be secured to wood quite easily and is very hardy. On the presumption that you have very little experience with live plants, I'd say these two are a good starting point. Java fern is also quite hardy and can also be secured to wood, but they've never been able to survive the attention my cichlids give them.
Aquarium safe wood is readily available on the net and will probably be in your LFS too. Driftwood and bogwood are usually aquarium safe, but make sure you clean them thoroughly before they go anywhere near your tank. Also, some of them leach tannins, which will temporarily discolour your tank. This isn't necessarily harmful, but can be a shock if you're not expecting it.
Fake plants are a good alternative if you choose to avoid live plants. Silk plants tend to be more expensive than plastic ones, but they're also much more realistic.
I suppose whether you choose real or artificial plants is a matter of personal preference. There's nothing inherently bad in either option. Real plants will help with water quality (although not enough to replace regular maintenance) and often look better; artificial plants are easier to look after and won't get eaten (most of the time).
Hope this helps.
