"Listen, all that talk about second breakfast really spoke to me while I had the munchies. At the time, proper appreciation for food was the best qualification I could think of."
I'm realizing now, why does Gandalf let Merry and Pippin come along? Obv he needs Frodo since he has the ring, and Frodo bringing along Sam as a +1 to help him with the journey makes sense, but I really don't remember the circumstance that led to Merry and Pippin getting added to the group. Was it just because they're friends with Frodo and wanted to go on an adventure?
Merry and Pippin are sneaks and eavesdroppers. They had to come along for their safety and to keep the mission secret
From the book: They were insistent. Elrond in particular thought Pippin was going to screw things up, which he did. Gandalf told Elrond they should trust to friendship more than wisdom, since in this particular matter even the wise couldn't see how to succeed.
They met with Sam and Frodo on accident while stealing vegetables from a farm, and then the ring wraiths showed up and they all had to flee together. By that point they were stuck on the quest and couldn't safely go home. It's a good thing they were there though, or the White Tower would not have fallen.
