The 3 M&M's Society

Researchers in Finland have scientifically proven that eating 3 M&M's is the optimal amount. After eating 3 M&M's the brain registers the feeling of having eaten M&M's and produces a measurable sense of satisfaction. Eating more than 3 does not enhance the experience and actually contributes to decreased satisfaction. Eating less than 3 does not trigger the brain's awareness of having eaten them and thus does not establish residual satisfaction.

The study involved taking lab mice and feeding them a quantity of M&M's (micro-sized, of course). After ingesting the M&M's the mice had to navigate through a maze and then answer a brief questionnaire.

• In tests with 1 M&M, mice could not recall what they ate and assumed it was some new suspected carcinogen or hair care product that no one in their right mind would eat in the first place. 
• In tests with 2 M&M's, mice were pretty sure they had not eaten shampoo and had eaten something tasty but could not recall what it was.
• In tests with 3 M&M's, mice knew that they had eaten M&M's and were very content.
• In tests with 4-7 M&M's, there was still recognition that M&M's had been eaten but increasing discontent that more were not provided. Sensory acclimation was present --- eating more M&M's no longer increased satisfaction.
• In tests with 10 or more M&M's, the mice generally couldn't finish the maze or scurried off very quickly and did not complete the questionnaire. They were later observed shaking in their cages.

After the results with mice, the researchers set out to confirm the results on humans. Unfortunately, the human test subjects had extreme difficulty trying to fit into the tiny mazes and could not fill out the tiny questionnaire using the tiny pencils provided, so no conclusive data was gathered.

Researchers decided that the results with mice were convincing enough to publish. Besides, they were almost out of grant money and wanted to throw a really cool party.

So eat 3 M&M's and be happy.