Want my Cornbread?

Intrigued by the difference of attitude between the parents of college students (corps of cadets)  who've just completed a long hike (~10 miles) and the students themselves.  The parents are all yee-hah, outstanding, so very proud, go for it;   the students are more subdued, laconic.  Course, they could just be tired, or maybe they just don't want to be seen agreeing with their parents.  My daughter said MREs aren't all that bad, but "don't eat the cornbread - it's nasty!"