Aussies want to eat out a lot more than in the past, and are doing it.

Over the last 10 years our interest in visiting cafes has significantly increased with nearly 60 percent visiting one at least once every three months for a cuppa, compared to around 51 percent in 2006.

This is just one of the findings in the recent study by roy Morgan Research into Australians eating habits.

Over 48 percent of Aussies are now visiting a café / coffee shop to eat at least three times a year, compared to less than 41 percent in 2006.

It is not only Cafes, Pubs are also now places of choice for food at least once every six months, with an increase of  six percent to 45 percent since 2006.

Interestingly, eating out at a fast food place at least once every three months has only increased by 1.6 percent to over 48 percent since 2006. However, over 58 percent of us are eating fast food in a three month period.

So we are eating out more and it is increasing.

The biggest increase in our consumption of outside food has been with the ordering of pizza, since 2006 there has been a 12 percent increase (to nearly 44 percent) of Aussies ordering a pizza to be delivered at least once every three months. It is no wonder there are now quite a few players in that market.

The type of food being eaten when out has increased to over 74 percent from around 65 percent in 2006. So we are eating out more and eating different types of foods as well. So although pizza (especially delivered) is still very popular, many other types of foods and experiences are now being enjoyed and sought by Australians.

An interesting question on the survey was about how often would someone eat out if they could afford to. The answer was that 23.1 percent of those surveyed would eat out every night if they could afford it. That is nearly a quarter of us, if you take those surveyed as representative of the whole community.