Mvc Empty List linked to the Model

In combination with a ViewModel (for my business logic) I am using the ViewData[""] object to pass lists to my view with data from the database.

I am using 3 lists and I link them to my Model
Only one of these lists has items fetched from the database like so:

ViewData["Materials"] = StockRepository.GetMaterialTypes();

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However... the other 2 lists should be empty by default and will get filled using jQuery when the user selects an item from the first list.

Right now, I have to fake 2 empty lists by returning an empty search from the database.

ViewData["Brands"] = StockRepository.GetBrands();
ViewData["ModelTypes"] = StockRepository.GetModelTypes();

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The GetBrands and GetModelTypes methods actually return nothing. They do something like this to make sure nothing is returned!

        public static IEnumerable<SelectListItem> GetBrands()
        {
            StockManagementDataContext db = new StockManagementDataContext();

            var brands = from m in db.Material
                         [b]where m.Description == "ABC"[/b]
                         select new SelectListItem
                         {
                             Text = m.Description,
                             Value = m.MaterialId.ToString(),
                         };

            return brands;
        }

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My question: is it possible to initialize ViewData["Brands"] with an empty list or is there another more efficient way to link the model to an empty list by default?

Thx

Gerrie