DETROIT – Thursday is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day! Did you know the Ancient Romans were the first to make a cooked bread and cheese sandwich?

History of the grilled cheese sandwich:

1920s

Culinary evidence suggests our modern grilled cheese (consisting of processed cheese and sliced white bread) began in the 1920s. That's when affordable sliced bread and inexpensive American cheese hit the market. Goverment issue cookbooks tell us World War II Navy cooks broiled hundreds of "American cheese filling sandwiches" in ship's kitchens.

1940s and 1950s

In the 1940s and 50s these sandwiches were open-faced and usually made with prepackaged grated "American" cheddar cheese. It wasn't long before school cafeterias and other institutional kitchens followed suit. The usual accompaniment? Tomato soup. At that time, tomato soup would have been perceived as a healthy dose of Vitamin C. Excess sodium was not an issue.

1960s and beyond

By the 1960s, the top piece of bread became standard.

According to a website called Punchbowl.com, April is also National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month. That means you have 18 days left to eat a grilled cheese sandwich to celebrate!