Take-out facts for kids
Take-out food is a meal prepared at a restaurant that you eat somewhere else. It's also called "carry-out," "take away," or "parcel." Instead of sitting down to eat at the restaurant, you pick up your food or have it delivered to enjoy at home, at a park, or anywhere you like!
The idea of buying prepared food to eat later is very old. People have been doing it for thousands of years! In Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, there were many market stalls and roadside shops selling ready-to-eat meals.
Ancient Take-Out: The Thermopolia
In the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, archaeologists have found over 200 special shops called thermopolia. These were like ancient fast-food counters! They had service areas that opened right onto the street. People could buy hot food and drinks to take away.
Many homes in Pompeii didn't have big kitchens or formal dining rooms. This suggests that people often bought their meals from thermopolia instead of cooking at home. It was a very popular way to eat!
Take-Out Today
Today, take-out food is popular all over the world. You can find almost any kind of food as take-out, from pizza and burgers to sushi and curry. Many restaurants offer take-out, and there are even special apps and services that deliver food right to your door. It's a convenient way to enjoy a meal without cooking or dining out.
Images for kids
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Beef yakiniku don for takeout
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Clockwise from upper left: A Meat Feast Parmo from Stockton-on-Tees, UK; Fish and chips; Döner kebab; Pizza delivery.
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Thermopolium in Herculaneum
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Street food vendors in early 20th century New York City.
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A market stall in Thailand selling take-out food
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Disposable chopsticks in a university cafeteria trash bin in Japan.
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Pizza served in a cardboard box.
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Boiled rice served in an oyster pail.
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Leaf-wrapped rice dish (nasi kuning)
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Paper-wrapped food carrying McDonald's food; including Chicken McNuggets, fries, burger, and drink
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Take-out food in Thailand is often packaged in plastic bags
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Orizume bento
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Tiffin carrier or dabba
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Chinese restaurant counter in a Northside Chicago neighborhood
See also
In Spanish: Comida para llevar para niños
