I've developed bad food allergies within the last year, so I've been making things like jam and salad dressings from scratch. I've always baked bread and made things like spaghetti sauce rather than buying the premade ones. It's possible to get just as fat eating good homemade cooking as it is eating the premade stuff. Having to cook everything and having a pantry full of ingredients rather than things to munch instantly might discourage snacking, or it might make you more likely to go out to dinner on days when you're too tired for lots of cooking.
For those trying to quit drinking soda, if you miss the bubbly feel, try drinking club soda now and then. It has no calories and you can still get the bubbly feel. It's nice with a little lime or lemon squeezed into it.