Abstract: A lunch box has a housing defining a hot and a cold compartment. An arrangement is provided in the lunch box for creating vacuum inside the compartments so as to releasably seal the cover of the lunch box onto the housing. Ribs or protrusions are provided on inner surfaces of the compartments to substantially prevent contact between stored food and the inner surfaces of the compartments. A device for producing heat may be provided in the hot compartment. Vacuum created inside the lunch box and minimal contact between the stored food and surfaces of the compartments substantially eliminates convection and conduction of heat to and from the stored food thereby effectively maintaining the temperature of the stored food over longer periods of time.