In Lieu of TUPPERWARE

I dont store food in plastic anymore but I went the cheap route; glass jars (think spaghetti, jam, salsa, pickles, small pimentos- good for taking BBQ sauce or ketchup). They are free (well after you eat the food out of them) and you only need to keep a few on hand because you really only use a couple at a time. Once you over use them just recycle them and have spaghetti for dinner one night- boom new jar.

As for heating up, he made need to keep a cheap plate set at work (if possible) to microwave in.

Good luck!

They sell Pyrex glass storage containers with lids at Target and Walmart.

Costco sells a set of containers that are glass with great, snap-on, plastic lids. (They might be called snapware, but I'm not sure.)

Those and a roll of aluminum foil (for the ovenproof lids) should do it.

I keep on of these at work for soups, etc....

http://www.amazon.com/CorningWare-French-White-15-Ounce-G...

Pyrex still has rubber lids. They aren't any better if your staying away from plastics. I do exactly what KR does. Old glass jars, I get a bigger lunch bag and send ceramic microwavable small plates with hubby. He only like stainless steel stuff but he cant be putting that in the nuker.

If you have a Home Goods or TJ Maxx near you, go there. They have lots of great lunch/storage containers in all kinds of materials.

I have a set of pyrex glass containers w/plastic lids that I bought just for that purpose, my DH hates the way food tastes when warmed up in plastic and well, we all know that it's really not ok! I think it was a set of 6 on sale for $15.
I also have a whole collection of wide mouth canning jars of different sizes. You can buy plastic lids for them (the metal ones are NOT tight if you don't heat seal them!) which are easy and hassle free to use.
To micowave just take of the lid of either container and voila! no plastic taste.

If you want a container that actually keeps stuff hot, look at those double walled soup thermos containers in your friendly outdoors/camping/hunting store.
Good luck!

GlassLock meets most of your specifications. The only one I'm not sure about is how you define "pretty" enough to use as tableware. I think the sleek and simple lines are just as presentable as some of the pyrex pieces. GlassLock containers are not embellished with blue floral icons or embossed script writing. But aesthetics are largely a matter of personal opinion, aren't they?

I love many aspects about GlassLock over Lock n Lock and SnapWare, which we are slowly phasing out. Even though Lock n Lock pieces are made of BPA-free plastic, but the aspects that detract from an otherwise great product are the plastic does get stained, pock marks show up wherever the plastic is exposed to hot oil, and food odors do tend to stay in the plastic.

Reasons we love GlassLock: totally leak-proof, comes in many shapes and sizes, stackable, freezer-safe, dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe. BPA free. The glass is thick and sturdy. Baby food is stored in the smallest versions of these, which also double as sauce/salad dressing containers for husband's lunch. (Smacking head for buying other products first -- we really should've just used GlassLock all the way!) The larger GlassLock containers can hold soup, or anything else. To nuke stuff, we pop open the lids (plastic), and stick the glass container filled with food into the microwave. There are no huge handles, but the rims are sizable enough to transport food with little risk of losing your grasp.

I like KR's idea. My teenager is a "jar fan"..LOL. She uses them in her art (teency scenes inside the jars)...for storage in her room (art supplies, bathroom supplies, all sorts of stuff). She uses them for leftovers at school too. She has a big lunch bag and will use a washable plate from the lunchline at her school...its allowed and they are very earthy friendly at her small art school and prefer that over paper trash. She just scoops out her lunch (spaghetti, meat and veggies, whatever fits in a large-ish Mason jar), nukes it (again, great options as her school)...and viola!

She bought a 12 pk of canning jars for like $6 bucks at Walm*rt. Works great!

I have slowly staring to change all my plastics to glass, I look for those that have good lids because many don't really "lock", so far my favorite is Ziploc VersaGlass, but are a little pricey.
I am still looking for cheaper versions, but if you want to give them a try, you can buy one, and inside of it comes a coupon so if you like it you can buy another one cheaper.

We don't heat anything in plastic anymore either - just don't want to take the chance. I've switched over to Pampered Chef's Leakproof Glass Containers (I'm a Consultant so, yes, this may be self serving but I really do love them). I didn't know if I'd like them at first because I always seem to have problems with lids. The containers are thick pyrex type of glass and the lids are really heavy duty. I've sent my husband to work with soup in them and they NEVER leak. You can turn them upside down and they're completely liquid tight.

Having said that, I don't think the lids go in the microwave but neither do most plastic lids. I just cover the dish with some waxed paper or a paper towel. The are fridge, freezer, microwave and oven safe. They come in 4 sizes - the largest is 8 1/4 cups, the smallest is 1 1/2 cups. They stack nicely. If you'd like my website, just send me a personal message as I don't think I can post it here without violating rules.

Canning Jars.

They have metal lids... so of course those need to be screwed off when microwaving... but the lids seal. you put the flat part of the lid on, and then screw the ring on tight. Unlike reusing jars from the store... those suckers don't twist off on accident.

They're also dirt cheap (as opposed to wholeFoods type options). Usually $11 or $20 for a box of a LOT of them (depending on the size... 10-40 of them)... and found in most grocery stores. Usually at ankle level, in a brown cardboard box, in the baking aisle.

look into bento boxes they are made of lots of materials

The only things I have found that are not plastic are the pyrex bowls. Heating up in glass is fine, just find a good lunch box to carry them in so they don't break.