For the sake of synergy, I was hoping S’mores Loaded Cereal would’ve been Golden Grahams S’mores Loaded. The moniker has been used a couple of times, so why not give the neglected O.G.G. (Original Golden Grahams) some L-O-V-E. As for the Chocolate Strawberry Loaded Cereal, it fits with the current Valentine’s season that began well before all the air was taken out of the last Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon.

The two new Loaded Cereals join a loaded lineup that includes Trix, Cocoa Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Birthday Cake. Before trying them, I predicted I would enjoy the S’mores one much more than the Chocolate Strawberry, but to my surprise, that wasn’t the case.

With this fruity and chocolatey cereal, the strawberry stands out more than the cocoa creme filling, and thinking back to all the other strawberry-flavored breakfast cereals I’ve had in the past, this one might be the best tasting. While the chocolate plays second fiddle, it adds a bit of decadence to the bowl. Unfortunately, while I was able to eat two bowls of it, my five-year-old son seemed to like these more than I did and protected the cereal like a lioness protecting her cubs. One time, when I wanted some as a snack, he gave me a stink eye as I pulled the box from the cabinet. Then he said, “That cereal is red, and so is your blood. I hope we don’t have to see your blood, Daddy.” I considered that a threat, so I returned the cereal and grabbed the S’mores one instead.

While I prefer the Chocolate Strawberry one and wish I could eat more, the S’mores Loaded Cereal is good. Although, at first, I thought the pieces lacked a marshmallow taste. But after a few more spoonfuls, my taste buds could detect a hint of something marshmallow-y. They have a noticeable chocolate aroma in the bag, but that doesn’t translate to a bold chocolate flavor. It’s slightly less noticeable than the creme in the other new flavor. Also, I taste more of the underlying wheat instead of a graham flavor. It’s not optimal, but it doesn’t ruin the cereal.

When I tried the original Loaded flavors, there was a, for lack of a better word, sliminess to them when they sat in milk for too long. It’s still there with these, but less so than what I experienced before. Also, much like the original varieties, I think these make for a better dry snack than in a bowl with milk, no matter what kind of dairy is used.

As I mentioned, I liked the Chocolate Strawberry Loaded over S’mores Loaded, but I enjoyed both more than the previous Loaded Cereal varieties.

DISCLOSURE: I received free product samples from General Mills. Doing so did not influence my review.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 15.6 oz box (S’mores), 18.1 oz box (Chocolate Strawberry)
Rating: 7 out of 10 (S’mores), 8 out of 10 (Chocolate Strawberry)
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup – cereal only) S’mores – 230 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar (including 14 grams of added sugar), and 3 grams of protein. Chocolate Strawberry – 220 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 40 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar (including 14 grams of added sugar), and 3 grams of protein.