Exchanging gifts

There is a custom in some communities, that is; when we give some prepared food to our neighbor or somebody they always give back something which they prepared, in the same plate in return. The problem is, when nothing is found in their home they refuse to return our plate empty and say that, "I will give later"because of custom. Is this an act of sunnah to give back something as hadya in the same plate when one receives hadya from a neighbor or someone else?