Allowing yourself to eat an occasional sweet treat is an important part of dieting/life style change, since denying yourself these indulgences can lead to diet backlash! Instead of keeping those tempting treats at home where you can too easily partake, make getting whatever you're craving an adventure.
Yep, it is much safer to enjoy your treats away from home. Walk to your nearest bakery for one (yes, only one) cookie. Ride you bike to the ice cream parlor for a single (yes, only one) scoop of your favorite flavor. Rollerblade to the local cafe for a slice of cake. Notice that the mode of transportation burns calories in all these scenarios!
Make sure to keep plenty of fresh fruit on hand just in case you can't get out of the house (sleeping children, perhaps?) when you want (or need) your special treat.
I rarely buy sweets to keep in the house - I'll buy ice cream (1/2 pint) if I have a specific reason (i.e. making apple pie tomorrow).
There are certain places I go for certain things. If I need (yes need) an oatmeal raisin cookie, I go to great harvest bread shop; If I need ice cream I go to mitchell's. If it's not worth the trip, then I probably don't need it.
ooo - mitchell's, I haven't been there in a while....