Aussies love local food but Chinese rates highest among meat eaters, according to new research from YouGov Surveys.

The survey shows the most popular cuisines are Australian, Italian and Thai, followed by Chinese and Indian.

Australian cuisine is most popular among pescetarians and flexitarians, and second most popular among meat eaters and vegetarians/vegans.

Vegans and vegetarians pick Indian meals as their favourite cuisine.

The latest study reveals that 66 per cent of Aussie consumers regard themselves as carnivores. Almost one-fifth (19 per cent) label themselves flexitarians, enjoying a predominantly plant based diet with occasional meat and fish meals.

Survey reveals dietary choices of Aussie consumer

Just 6 per cent of those surveyed eat a vegetarian or vegan diet. Pescetarians, who eat fish but not meat, account for only 3 per cent of Australian consumers.

There are generational trends in the dietary results, with one quarter of Millennials and Gen X regarding themselves as flexitarians. This cohort is also more likely to adopt a vegan or vegetarian diet than the older generations.

Taste is shown to be the key factor across the ages when deciding what to eat. However, among meat eaters taste far outweighs price and health factors which are bigger considerations for flexitarians and vegetarians.

This story was originally published on Franchise Executives.