The Best Foods We've Seen On Shark Tank

Would you feel brave enough to take a courageous dive into the "Shark Tank" with an idea you hope knocks the socks off of a team of savvy investors? Most people would likely chicken out (the stakes are nerve-rackingly high), but for those driven folks who build up the guts to tackle the tank, some walk away with a pretty sweet deal that'll have them building massive amounts of brand awareness and raking in tons of money. Pitching to investors Mark Cuban, Kevin "Mr. Wonderful" O'Leary, and Barbara Corcoran means you have to show up with a product they think will succeed on the market, not some chintzy half-hearted idea you haven't put some serious effort into. As viewers know, some ideas are so unique that the sharks actually attempt to outdo each other to get a piece of the financial pie, but others are quickly turned to chum and sadly sink to the bottom of the tank.

One way to grab the sharks' attention right off the bat is by serving them food (if food happens to be your product). No one likes working on an empty stomach, so feeding the investors is a solid tactic. Some of the culinary creations presented to the panel of hosts have made everyone's mouths — including viewers at home — water with excitement. These are the best foods we've seen on "Shark Tank."

One food item you'd never find on any list of "Things Doctors Recommend You Consume Daily" is beef jerky. Sure, people might tout the high amount of protein, but if you look at any of the other ingredients, the nutrition from that protein is canceled out. High amounts of sodium, saturated fats, and preservatives make jerky a snack you probably shouldn't eat all the time. But what if you could enjoy jerky without all the health concerns associated with it? That's exactly the question one man tried to answer when he appeared on "Shark Tank" with his company Pan's Mushroom Jerky.

The name of Michael Pan's product tells you everything you need to know about this version of jerky. It's made using shiitake mushrooms that give an umami flavor so your taste buds aren't disappointed by the lack of meat in this jerky. Pan got the idea while visiting his family in Malaysia where he discovered amazing cooking techniques with vegetables that truly mimicked the flavor of meat. He got to work on completely meat-free mushroom-based jerky that comes in six savory flavors: Original Mushroom, Zesty Thai, Applewood BBQ, Salt and Pepper, Teriyaki, and Curry.

Most of us, no matter how much we try to watch our diet and ensure only the best possible substances pass through our lips so our bodies operate at peak physical performance, still crave junk food now and then. And honestly, incorporating a cheat day into a health-obsessed schedule is perfectly natural. Trying overly hard to absolutely never consume a bacon cheeseburger or milkshake would drive us up a wall. A mother-daughter team who launched the company The Bumbling Bee entered "Shark Tank" knowing full well that a greasy plate of nachos is much more appealing than a kale salad, so they rolled up their sleeves and created plant-based junk food that gives the flavors of everything we shouldn't eat while packing our bellies with nutrients.

Cassandra Ayala and her daughter, India, took healthy junk food to an amazing place. The menu at their Virginia Beach, VA, food truck is full of exactly the kind of food you would think is chock-full of fat and meat, but is instead loaded with everything your body craves. You can kick off your meal with some chili cheese fries or crispy nuggets before moving on to a hearty, and healthy, burger. Options like the Brunch Betty Bakun and Eggs"with arugula, egg, "bakun," red onions, cheddar cheese, and aioli or the Mother Clucker with fried "chicken," pickles, slaw, and Cajun aioli make this one health-conscious joint you have to try.

Wait, did someone just say, "pizza cupcakes!?" Yep, and they're just amazing looking as you'd think. The Pizza Cupcake is a company founded by Chef Andrea Meggiato and his wife Michelle. This husband-and-wife team changed the game when it came to offering the deliciousness of pizza as a bite-sized cupcake-shaped snack. Heck, the chef even appeared on an episode of "Moments with Mimi" and taught superstar singer Mariah Carey how to make his amazing creation. This couple hit all the right notes when they appeared on "Shark Tank" and, naturally, the investors were thrilled to take a taste of the morsels of doughy delight.

The pizza cupcakes are offered in two flavors, pepperoni and margherita, and you can buy them by the box on the company's website. These things are a superb idea for parties since they offer the same awesome flavors a slice of pizza does without having to consume an entire slice, especially if you're trying to save room for something else. We reviewed Chrissy Teigen's signature pizza cupcakes, and we loved them. The cheese inside the cupcake has a great stretch that makes for that perfect pull-apart Instagram foodie picture. If you like pizza and like bite-sized snacks, the products from The Pizza Cupcake are right up your alley.

Is there any dessert out there that trumps a freshly baked doughnut? Obviously that question is debatable, but a warm circle of fluffy dough drizzled in icing is just too good to resist, and that's why Morgan Hipworth got into the sweet treat game at an early age. Not only is Hipworth the founder of Melbourne, Australia's Bistro Morgan Doughnuts, but he's used his confectionary knowledge as a guest judge on "Junior Masterchef Australia" and hosted a miniseries on Nick Jr. all before the age of 20. His passion for food is evident in everything he does, and when he appeared on "Shark Tank," the judges knew they were speaking with someone special (via News.com.au)

In addition to doughnuts, you can order cookies and delicious pressed sandwiches, as well. The doughnuts, however, are the star of the show here. The menu is filled with creative options like the Cookie Monster, a delicately flaky brioche donut piped full of funfetti cake batter and topped with white chocolate chunks, Oreo pieces, and confetti sprinkles. There's also the Bruno Mars, which is brioche filled with gooey salted caramel and topped with white chocolate and Mars Bars pieces. One thing's for sure when it comes to Morgan Hipworth: The world is a sweeter place because he's in it, and everyone is thankful for that.

In 2012, the Wilson County Fair in Tennessee saw the debut of the Fried Green Tomatoes Food Truck, and owner Holly Gatlin Cooper quickly realized she had something special on her hands. People loved the crispy tart flavors of the unripened tomatoes, and it didn't take long before Cooper was getting requests for the batter mix and secret sauce so people could replicate the food in the comfort of their own homes. At first, Cooper didn't even think of that as an option, but she quickly realized that selling products would spread the brand name and help take her Fried Green Tomatoes company to new heights.

On the website, you can purchase the company's fried green tomato batter, fried pickle batter, and all the ingredients needed to whip up the Cooper's secret sauce so you can slather your food with a delicious new condiment. But if you ever get a chance to visit the actual food truck, you can order items like a catfish sandwich, shrimp po boy, and a BLFGT (bacon, lettuce, and fried green tomatoes). Tomatoes are good, but when they're green and fried they're even better, and Fried Green Tomatoes proves it.

Unreal Deli is a company that prides itself on serving up all the delicious items an authentic New York City deli does but using plant-based ingredients instead of fatty meats. Founded by a woman named Jenny Goldfarb who adopted a vegan lifestyle but didn't want to sacrifice the flavors of her favorite NYC delis she used to go to as a child, Unreal Deli serves up a variety of "meat" that contains no GMOs, cholesterol, antibiotics, hormones, or nitrates. It's an awesome way to get protein without also tacking on saturated fat.

Mark Cuban himself said, "As a self-declared deli expert I officially place my allegiance in Unreal Deli." That's a quote coming from someone who knows the ins and outs of business more than most. But you don't have to be a deli expert to enjoy the variety of roasted turkey, corned beef, and steak. The "meat" is made up of protein-packed ingredients like shiitake mushrooms, beets, lentils, cannellini beans, and chickpeas. This stuff isn't pretend, it's unreal.