UIC MBA Chicago Entrepreneur Blog Past, present, and future plans in the life of an entrepreneur and former Chicago UIC MBA student.

I recently finished reading The China Study and decided to become pescetarian for the month of September.  If you know me at all, this is an extremely difficult challenge for me because I sure love my meat.  The book recommends being a pure vegan but I don’t think I can give up seafood and meat in one sitting.  I’m doing a modified version in which I will eat no animal protein (not counting fish - that’s an argument for another day).  I will not be eating any meat (beef, chicken, lamb, pork, buffalo, or whatever floats your boat) and I will not be taking in any animal related substance such as eggs, dairy, cheese, yogurt, etc..   I’m not going to be super picky and cut out anything that contains eggs as many vegetarian entrees contain eggs but I will try to avoid eating it if it includes a large portion of the items I’m avoiding.

The China Study

Brief facts about “The China Study” (If you haven’t realized yet, I love to bullet point items):

• The China Study is named after a study based in China in which people from all different regions have completely different health
• Meat and milk are the real carcinogens and cause of high cholesterol which leads to heart problems, obesity, diabetes, etc..
• The least actives Chinese take in more calories daily compared to normal active Americans and still have less health problems and weigh less
• Those in China who eat the least amount of processed vegetables, fruit and grains, have the fewest affluence-related health problems
• To sum up, a vegetable and whole food diet without meat will lead to better health.  It’s more complicated than this but you’ll have to read the book to find out

Posted under Uncategorized

I like to thank everyone who came up to me during the new student orientation to tell me that they enjoyed reading my blog.  It’s nice to get some positive reinforcement and it motivates me to write more entries. So…. on to my next topic:

Why it’s a good time to be a student:

• Obvious - the job market is pretty bad right now so it’s really difficult to find jobs
• When companies start hiring again, they’ll wonder why there’s such a large gap in between employment
• Pursuing an MBA is a great way to enhance your abilities during this downtime and fill the gap in between employment
• While in school, take time to networkand enjoy yourself.  Do all the things you’ve always wanted to do (travel in the summer or winter break, enjoy what the City of Chicago has to offer, stay in shape, etc..)
• It will be very difficult to find time to finish your MBA once you have children and other obligations
• NETWORK!!  I can’t emphasis this enough.  The program is a great time to meet like-minded individuals and a great step towards finding a new job

• Incoming MBA students tend to take most of the same classes together.  Joining groups will allow you to meet 2nd and 3rd year students that you would not have had the opporunity to meet otherwise.
• Social events outside of class will bring out different sides of people.  The student you sit next to in class might be completely different outside the classroom setting.  The relaxed atmosphere makes it easier to get to know one another
• Attend the community events.  Working together to help others is both rewarding and a great chance to bond with others
• Most of these social events have FREE FOOD or FREE DRINKS!  Enough said.

By the way, take advantage of benefits once you are a student.  Go workout at the fitness center.  I would compare it equally to a Lifetime Fitness that cost $60-$70/month!  Now go out and have fun!

UIC Fitness

Posted under UIC MBA Liautaud

I officially switched over to a Sigg Reuseable water bottle over a year ago.  I use to drink plastic bottle waters like you wouldn’t believe.  In a week, it wouldn’t be unusual for me to go through at least a case of 24.  How could you not love them?  They’re convenient to bring around, easy to throw away or recycle and they’re cheap!

One day last year when I realized I didn’t throw away my recycling bin and it had been accumulating for over 2 weeks, I took a look and was shocked to see so many empty plastic water bottles.  I decided then and there that I would switch over to a reusable water bottle.  After research on Amazon.com (greatest site ever), I went with the Sigg over the imitation brands and more established brands like Kleen Kanteen.

Sigg Bottle

Fact:

- I’ve probably saved at least 500 - 1000 water bottles since that time.

- That equates to about $300 savings in one year span.  The Sigg cost about $20 shipped.

- 86% of water bottles take up to 1000 years to biodegrade

- Producing, packaging and transporting a liter of bottled water requires between 1,100 and 2,000 times more energy on average than treating and delivering the same amount of tap water

- When plastic bottles get heated in the sun, you might be drinking harmful toxins.

- As a rule of thumb, scientists say that you can fill a PET bottle ¼ of the way with oil to symbolize how much energy goes into every bottle.

Now, I don’t know what 1000 bottles stacked together looks like, but I imagine something like this:

Water Bottle waste in landfill

In conclusion, save yourself some money and do something good for the earth.

Posted under Uncategorized

UIC MBAA board members at Chicago Care Event

Posted under UIC MBA Liautaud

Bam!  I finally compiled my list of favorite places to eat under $15.  As a student, it’s difficult to justify paying high prices for a gourmet meal.  Sometimes, the best meals are often the ones that cost the least.   I also decided to stay within Chicago to limit the choices since most of my readers are around UIC area. (Pictures are not mine!  They were taken from other websites)  In no particular order:

-Sultan’s Market - 2057 W North Ave and 2521 N Clark St

Amazing falafel sandwichs and Chicken Shawarma.  Hefty portions!

- Giordano’s Pizza - Multiple Locations - 815 W Van Buren St (Closest to UIC)

What trip to Chicago could be complete without Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza?

-Cho Sun Ok - 4200 N Lincoln Ave

This might cost a little more than $15 but it’s amazing.  You only go for one item there, cha dol bae gi (unmarinated thin sliced beef).  Afterwards, they take all the side dishes and make you a fried rice.

Ba Le -5018 N Broadway   and Tank Noodle 4953 N Broadway (across the street)

My, oh my.  The pho at tank is out of this world.  Finish it off with a #1 Ba Le special sandwich right across the street. (Probably not a good idea to eat both in one sitting)

-Meli’s Cafe - 301 S Halsted St

Perhaps my favorite breakfast place in the city and I’ve been to them all.  Homemade jam and butter with fresh squeezed orange juice.  (Warning - it gets very busy on the weekends)

-Hot Doug’s - 3324 N California Ave

This place needs no introduction.  On Anthony Bourdain’s list of top ten places to eat before you die.  Lines do get ridiculous at over a hour wait.  Try duck fat french fries on the weekend.

-Maxwell’s and Jim Polish - 1250 S Union Ave

This is a perfect midnight snack if you’ve been out drinking.  Open all night and under $3.  Try the Polish or Pork Chop sandwich.

-Oparts Thai - Multiple Locations - 1906 S State St (Closest to UIC)

When I’m craving Thai food, there’s nothing more authentic.

Opart

-Great Seas -3254 W Lawrence Ave

Again, one specialty, cheap insanely delicious chicken wings.  If you’re up to the challenge, there’s a wall of people who have eaten the most wings in one sitting.  I think it was up to 90 last time I saw.

-Cafecito -26 East Congress Pkwy

Pulled pork, ham and cheese in one sandwich, only in your dreams!  And here it is: (voted best Cubano in Chicago):

-Portillo’s - Multiple Locations - 100 W Ontario St

Great mix of all types of food.  Try the Italian Beef or Hot Dog.

-Ed’s Potsticker House -3139 S Halsted St

One of the few places in Chicago to get Shou Long Bao (steamed soup dumplings)

Well, that rounds up my list.  I could have added higher priced restaurants but I wanted to keep things simple.  Enjoy the list and you’ll probably bump into me at one of these places!

Posted under Chicago Cheap Eat