Fall is in the air and although we’ve officially passed halloween – there’s still plenty of fall to go around! We’re sure you’ve seen plenty of pumpkins out there, but have you noticed that other winter squashes have officially returned to stores?
Not only are they cool to look at – they can also be a delicious and nutritious addition to your meals. Winter squashes are often found in vibrant shades of yellows and oranges making them a source of carotenes, which have been shown to help protect against certain types of cancer. They are also a good source of fiber, antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C and folate.
We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite winter squashes to help you decide which you’d like to try this season.

Butternut: Likely one of the most commonly used winter squash, the elongated bell-shaped butternut squash is pretty easy to find. It’s mild and sweet flavor makes it very versatile. Butternut squash can be incorporated into soups, stews, salads, sauces and even baked into muffins.
Acorn: This squash is similar in shape to its namesake, an acorn. It has a slightly milder taste than a butternut squash, but is just as sweet. It is best served stuffed or roasted. When roasted, its skin becomes tender enough to eat with no problems.
Delicata: The cutest and smallest of the winter squashes – its rind is oblong and cream with green stripes. It can be cut into rings and roasted or cut lengthwise and stuffed. The skin of a delicata squash is thin and tender enough to eat after cooking. Our favorite way to enjoy delicata is roasted with a little maple syrup!
Spaghetti: The name for this squash is very appropriate, because once cooked, the inside breaks up into a stringy texture that resembles spaghetti! It is often used as a replacement for pasta in lower carbohydrate dishes. To cook, cut in half lengthwise, drizzle with olive oil and roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes.
Kabocha: Often called a “Japanese pumpkin”, the kabocha squash is a larger winter squash. Its hearty texture makes it great for soups and stews. Much like other winter squash, it has a sweet and nutty flavor.