Optimization of foreach statement, create new mapped Viewmodel list - optimization

Question

Can someone please have a look at my code, I think there must be a way to optimize the foreach piece of code?
I have a database with Artists, each artist has multiple songTitles (called Titles), and each Title can have multiple Meanings.
Artist [1..*] Title [1..*] Meaning [0..*]
I want to find the count of Meanings, per Title, for an Artist, and return it as a new ViewModel List.
public class TitleVM
{
public int TitleID { get; set; }
public int MeaningCount { get; set; }
}
public List<TitleVM> GetTitlesByArtistID(int artistID)
{
//find the artist by ID
var titles = context.Titles.Where(x => x.ArtistID == artistID);
//create new VMList to be returned
var titleVMList = new List<TitleVM>();
//loop through each title,
foreach (var item in titles)
{
//find the number of meanings,
var count = 0;
if (item.Meanings != null && item.Meanings.Count > 0)
{
count = item.Meanings.Count();
}
// and map it to VM, add to list
titleVMList.Add(new TitleVM
{
TitleID = TitleID,
MeaningCount = count
});
}
return titleVMList;
}
I thought mapping it would be easiest, but have no idea how to map a viewmodel with lists in this way.
In my project I use Omu.ValueInjecter for mapping basic models, because Automapper needs full trust to run, and my host doesn't allow it.
Let me know if more information is needed.

Answer 1

Ok I read that its better to do an .AddRange then adding the the item with .Add each time.
I got my code down to the below:
public int CountMeanings(IEnumerable<Meaning> meanings)
{
if (meanings != null && meanings.Count() > 0)
return meanings.Count();
return 0;
}
public List<TitleVM> GetTitlesByArtistID(int artistID)
{
var titleVMList = new List<TitleVM>();
var titles = context.Titles.Where(x => x.ArtistID == artistID).AsEnumerable();
titleVMList.AddRange(titles.Select(item => new TitleVM {
TitleID = item.TitleID,
MeaningCount = CountMeanings(item.Meanings)
}));
return titleVMList;
}