In the middle of a South Florida summer, there's nothing more tempting to make for dinner than reservations. In the middle of a recession ... maybe not.

But the frozen-food aisle is full of products that promise a restaurant-style dinner is in the bag for far less than you'd spend eating out. Our tasters found that the claims on the front of the packages were pretty accurate, but be sure to read the nutrition label, too.

Watch out especially for serving size -- two brands listed 2.5 servings per package, but two servings, as on the Bertolli label, was probably more realistic. This affects nutritional information -- Bertolli doesn't fare as well partly because the serving size is larger, though not large enough to account for all of the discrepancy.

Bertolli Shrimp, Asparagus & Penne

Cost: $6.99

The label says: Complete Skillet Meal for Two; ready in 10 minutes.

Nutrition per 340 g serving ( ½ package): 440 calories; 17 g fat (26 percent Daily Value); 8 g saturated fat (40 percent Daily Value); 90 mg cholesterol (30 percent Daily Value); 980 mg sodium (41 percent Daily Value); 3 g fiber (12 percent Daily Value); 16 g protein; 20 percent Daily Value Vitamin A; 25 percent Daily Value Vitamin C.

The verdict: The lush pink tomato-cream sauce was by far our tasters' favorite, but it came at a price: almost half the recommended daily value of saturated fat. Sodium, as in most prepared foods, was also high. One taster praised Bertolli for adding asparagus, a vegetable with crunch, to add textural contrast to the pasta.

Grade: A for taste but not nutrition.

Contessa Shrimp Mediterranean

Cost: $5.99

The label says: Restaurant quality. Low fat. Now with larger shrimp. Eat responsibly (a reference to Contessa's LEED certified ''green'' manufacturing plant.)

Nutrition per 283.5 g serving: 400 calories; 5 g total fat (8 percent Daily Value); 1 g saturated fat (5 percent Daily Value); 35 mg cholesterol (12 percent Daily Value); 750 mg sodium (31 percent Daily Value); 6 g fiber (24 percent Daily Value); 23 g protein; 60 percent Daily Value Vitamin A, 60 percent Daily Value Vitamin C.

The verdict: Our tasters thought this would have been improved by a zippier sauce. But the promised ''larger shrimp'' were, indeed, bigger than the competing brands', and the linguine and vegetables were OK. Nutritional profile, except for sodium, is laudable.

Grade: C for flavor, B+ for nutrition.

Voila! Chicken & Shrimp Penne with Vegetables

Cost: $3.99

The label says: A complete meal in 10 minutes; Taste the Difference! Creamy Herb Sauce

Nutrition per 215 g serving: 190 calories; 2.5 g fat (4 percent Daily Value); 0.5 g saturated fat (3 percent Daily Value); 40 mg cholesterol (13 percent Daily Value); 710 mg sodium (30 percent Daily Value); 2 g fiber (8 percent Daily Value); 12 g protein; 4 percent Daily Value Vitamin A; 25 percent Daily Value Vitamin C.

The verdict: Tasters liked the combination of shrimp and protein and the variety of vegetables -- red and yellow peppers, Italian beans, zucchini and sun-dried tomatoes. And the peppery, creamy herb sauce added very little fat.

But Birds Eye is phasing out the shrimp/ chicken combo in August because the addition of shellfish hinders some customers from buying it.

Grade: A-

The bottom line: A healthful dinner can indeed be in the bag -- if you check labels.

Have a product you want tested? E-mail glehman@MiamiHerald.com.

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