That's a very good question! i've found that I have to have several strategies to deal with cravings. These have worked for me:

I mute the sound on commercials, especially food commercials. Just don't watch or listen to them.

I chew sugar free gum. I've never swallowed it, so it's not an issue for me.

I keep protein (NO CARB) snacks, such as jerky, handy. (I crave salty things more than sweet.)

I check in with myself to see if I'm feeling particularly stressed or emotional about something because those two things often lead to my cravings. If I'm emotional or stressed, I either talk to a friend about it, write about it, or exercise (walking outside where there is no food usually does the trick.

Those are the things that usually work for me :)

I find if I stay well hydrated, my cravings don't get out of control. So many times I'll have a craving and realize I'm 2-3 glasses of water behind for the day. If I focus on getting caught up, I don't feel hungry and can set the cravings aside.
Also, eating on schedule, protein, protein, protein, followed by low carb veggies, keep me full and less susceptible to triggers.
I too try to avoid commercials, but then I turn on the food channel to learn new recipes and I'm right back with it in my face again! LOL

Thanks ladies! I am doing well with the sweets but the salty crunchy cravings are killing me. I am following low carb high protein regimen and eating about 6 times a day. I have noticed that if I'm getting my water intake they're not as bad, but sometimes it just hits me out of nowhere. And the commercials are terrible. I've just been avoiding them, because if I watch them, even if I just ate I feel instant hunger and I know it's just a mind trick.

Sometimes I just want salty crunchy too. So I make a batch of microwave pork rinds. They satisfy my craving :-)

i saw recipes for microwave sweet potato chips. Anyone ever try those? I love sweet potatoes. So I'm thinking those with maybe a little sea salt. Never tried it before though.

I eat carrots, satisfies my craving for something crunchy.

Sugar free popsicles, sugar free gum, carrots, and sometimes popcorn were my go to foods for cravings. Sometimes a jello snack also. When I was able to have fruit, that helped as well.