wazzu, as others have said, I strongly recommend lots of complex carbs in the 48 hours before your Whitney hike. Pasta, breads, rice, potatoes, etc. - build a store of easily-convertible energy for those 6000 calories you'll need to burn to get to the summit and back. Personally, I pig out on pasta and breads the 2-3 meals before heading out on a big hike like Whitney. Doug's pancake is a shining example of complex carbs that you can eat one day and still have with you while pulling that 6150 feet of uphill the next day on Whitney.
Being in an eating rut is not necessarily a bad thing before a big hike, assuming the rut is providing good fuel for the hiking engine. In fact, I would caution you not to vary your eating habits too greatly once you get to Lone Pine - at least not just for the sake of changing them. First, you don't want gastric issues at 13,000 feet sapping your strength. Secondly, your food intake in the 48 hours before you hit the Whitney Trail should be geared towards what will get you up and down the mountain. Taste and personal preference are secondary considerations.
The day of your big hike, taste and personal preference are everything. Take with you only those things that you know you like to eat under most circumstances. What might seem OK at sea level can be horrible at altitude. Last year I took some packaged tuna with me up Whitney. I generally like tuna. Tried to eat it on the switchbacks and got maybe two bites down. Dumb. Tuna is not one of those foods I crave and love. Take stuff you have a strong affinity for, 'cuz that's generally all you can stomach above Trail Camp. For me it's Pop Tarts and M&Ms - I can eat these anywhere, anytime, and they're tailor-made for hiking a big mountain. Naturally, you want some items to be simple carbs with lots of quick sugary-energy burst, but now is not the time to be testing out new or different foods if you can avoid it. The chances are very high those new foods will come back in your pack untouched.
Best of luck, and post a TR!
