Dinner now comes in paper bags, in plastic wrap and containers, and in anything else that will get it to your supper table without spills. Who has time to cook? After work or a busyday running around, many consumers don’t want to hunt down hard-to-find ingredients, then stand at the stove making dinner.
Fast food and restaurant takeout were already popular alternatives, but now more places than ever are offering ready-made meals. You can find dinner to go in supermarkets, specialty markets, and wine or liquor stores. These takeout items are fancier and more appealing than ever: Mexican and Middle Eastern specialties are side by side with Chinese soups, grilled vegetables, and all kinds of grain and pasta salads.
https://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2004/02/25/wrap_it_up_well_take_it/