1. Lack of primary food- Being dissatisfied with a relationship or having an inappropriate exercise routine (too much, too little, or the wrong kind), being bored, stressed, uninspired by a job, or lacking a spiritual practice may all cause emotional eating. Eating can be used as a substitute for entertainment or to fill the void of primary food.
2. Water- lack of water can send the message that you are thirsty and on the verge of dehydration. Dehydration can manifest as a mild hunger, so the first things to do when you get a craving is drink a full glass of water.
3. Yin-Yang Imbalance- Certain foods have more yin qualities (expansive), while other foods have more yang qualities (contractive). Eating foods that are either extremely yin or extremely yang causes cravings in order to maintain balance. For example, eating a diet too rich in sugar (yin) may cause a craving for meat (yang). Eating too many raw foods (yin) may cause cravings for extremely cooked (dehydrated) foods or vise versa.
4. Inside Coming Out- Often, cravings come from foods that we have recently eaten, foods eaten by our ancestors, or foods from our childhood. A clever way to satisfy these cravings is to eat a healthier version of one's ancestral or childhood foods.
5. Seasonal- Frequently the body craves foods that balance the elements of the season. In the spring, people crave detoxifying foods like leafy greens or citrus foods. In the summer, people crave cooling foods like fruit, raw foods, and ice cream, and in the fall people crave grounding foods like squash, onions, and nuts. During winter, many crave hot and heat-producing foods like meat, oil, and fat. Cravings can also be associated with the holidays, for foods like turkey, eggnog, or sweets.
6. Lack of Nutrients- If the body has inadequate nutrients, it will produce odd cravings. For example, inadequate mineral levels produce salt cravings, and overall inadequate nutrition produces cravings for non nutritional forms of energy like caffeine.
7. Hormonal- When women experience menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels may cause unique cravings.
8. De-Evolution- When things are going extremely well, sometimes a self-sabotage syndrome happens. We crave foods that throw us off, thus creating more cravings to balance ourselves. This often happens from low blood sugar and may result in strong mood swings.

From Institute of Integrative Nutrition

1. Reduce or eliminate caffeine- The ups and downs of caffeine include dehydration and blood sugar swings, causing sugar cravings to be more frequent.
2. Drink Water- Sometimes sweet cravings are a sign of dehydration. Before you go for the sugar, have a glass of water and then wait a few minutes to see what happens. Caution: soft drinks are now America's number one source of added sugar.
3. Eat Sweet Vegetables and Fruit- They are sweet, healthy and delicious. The more you eat, the less you'll crave sugar.
4. Use gentle sweets- Avoid chemicalized, artificial sweeteners with added sugar. Use gentle sweeteners like maple syrup, brown rice syrup, dried fruit, stevia, barley malt and agave nectar.
5. Get physically active- Start with simple activities, like walking or yoga. Begin with 10 minutes a day and gradually increase. It will help balance your blood sugar levels, boost your energy, and reduce tension without medicating yourself with sugar!
6. Get more sleep, rest and relaxation- When you are tired or stressed, your body will crave energy in the from of sugar. These cravings are often a result of being sleep-deprived, going to bed late or waking up early, sometimes for months and years on end.
7. Evaluate the amount of animal food you eat- Eating too much can lead to cravings for sweets. So can eating too little!   Experiment. Respect your body's individuality.
8. Eliminate fat-free or low-fat packaged snack foods- These foods contain high  quantities of sugar to compensate for lack of flavor and fat, which will send you on the roller- coaster ride of sugar highs and lows.
9. Experiment with spices- Coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamon will naturally sweeten your foods and reduce cravings.
10. Slow down and find sweetness in non-food ways- Your body does not biologically need sugar, but it does long for hugs, time with friends, outside time, workouts, massages, etc. When life becomes sweet enough for itself, no additives are needed!

 From: Get the Sugar Out: 501 Simple Ways to Cut the Sugar Out of Any Diet